JBRARY  OF  PRINCETON 



APR  1  4  1998 

THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 

1899 
Livingston, 


BV  2063  .N48 
Nevius,  John 

1829-1893. 
The  planting  and  developmentit 

of  miasiQua.rLY.chut.ctie.S>, 


The  Planting  and  Development 


Missionary  Clmrches 


BY 


Rev.  JOHN   L.  NEVIUS,  D.D. 

LATE    MISSIONARY    TO    CHINA 


t/'s  ^^^K,^irt<^^ 


FOREIGN    MISSION    LIBRARY 

156  Fifth  Avenue 

NEW   YORK 


NOTE  PREFATORY  TO  THIRD  EDITION 

This  little  book  first  appeared  as  a  series  of  articles  which 
were  published  in  the  "  Chinese  Recorder  "  in  1885.  They 
immediately  aroused  great  interest  in  a  missionary  scheme 
about  which  little  was  generally  known,  except  that  it  was 
very  successful.  So  great  was  the  demand  for  these  letters 
by  the  late  Dr.  Nevius,  that  they  were  reprinted  in  book 
form  by  the  Presbyterian  Press,  Shanghai,  in  1886. 
The  interest  in  the  discussion  having  spread  to  this  coun- 
try, a  second  edition  was  prepared  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Grant 
and  published  in  the  "  Foreign  Mission  Library  "  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board,  New  York. 

During  the  years  that  have  intervened  since  their  first 
appearance,  Dr.  Nevius's  methods  have  been  successfully 
tested  in  other  fields— notably  and  most  fruitfully  in  Korea 
—and  have  been  very  highly  endorsed  by  many  board  sec- 
retaries. While  it  is  but  fair  to  other  theories  of  mission- 
ary work  to  say,  that  even  in  Dr.  Nevius's  own  field  his 
plans  were  not  wholly  satisfactory,  and  that  from  1885  to 
the  present  year  some  Chinese  missionaries  have  strongly 
argued  against  them,  it  is  also  true  that  no  single  scheme 
hitherto  published  promises  so  well  to  meet  the  pressing 
emergencies  of  the  present  time. 

When  every  dollar  must  do  its  utmost  good  with  the 
least  harm,  and  when  candidates  for  the  foreign  field  are 
studying  as  never  before  the  varied  aspects  of  missions,  it 
was  deemed  best  to  bring  out  a  new  edition  for  the  special 
use  of  mission  study  classes  of  the  Student  Volunteer 

3 


1 


4  NOTE   PREFATORY  TO    THIRD   EDITION 

Movement  for  Foreign  Missions.  The  present  book  dif- 
fers from  the  preceding  edition  in  its  title,  in  tlie  omission 
of  a  few  lines  having  local  and  temporary  interest  only,  and 
in  the  chapter  and  paragraph  divisions,  which  have  been 
made  to  correspond  to  other  books  of  the  Movement.  It 
may  be  said  with  reference  to  these  latter  changes,  that  the 
bold-faced  Clarendon  type  indicates  main  divisions,  the 
paragraphs  headed  by  Arabic  numerals  constitute  sub- 
ordinate divisions,  and  other  paragraphs  subdivisions. 
Numerals  have  been  employed  for  the  convenience  of 
students  and  leaders  of  classes  who  use  an  analytical  out- 
line—published elsewhere— in  preparing  for  the  class. 
New  Yukk,  iMarch  i,  1899. 


CONTENTS 


I.  The  t)i.i)  System  Criticised 

Introductory;   Old  System  vs.  the  New,  7;   Spirit  and  Attitude 

in  this  Discussion,  g;  Old  Method  a  Natural  One,  li ;  Ob- 
jections to  the  Old  Method,  12. 

II.  How  Deal  wuh  New  Converis?     ..... 
Abiding  in  the  Old  Calling,  ig  ;    Importance  of  Precedents,  21  ; 

Nature  of  the  Church  and  Its  Development;  Test  Necessary 
before  Advancement.  26  ;  Necessity  of  Training,  27  ;  Com- 
mit Converts  to  the  Lord,  28. 

III.  Origin  and  Growth  ofStaitons  in  Central  Shan-tung. 
General  View  of  the  Shantung  Work,   30;    Relations  of  the 

Missionary  Helpers  and  Leaders;  Principle  Underlying  Sta- 
tion Organization,  32  ;  Instruction  of  Inquirers  and  Church 
Members,  35;  Bible  or  Training  Classes,  39;  Results  to 
Station  Members,  41 ;  Manner  in  which  Stations  are  Propa- 
gated, 42  ;  Classes  to  which  Our  Church  Members  Belong, 
44;  Persecution,  45 ;  Sabbath  Observance,  46;  Discipline, 
48;  Contributions;  Schools,  51;  Men  Employed  and  Inci- 
dental Expenses,  52 ;   Summary  and  Forecast,  53. 

IV.  Organization  of  Stations,   Present  and  Prospective, 
Varying  Views  Concerning  Church  Organization,  55  ;   Scripture 

Teachings  as  to  the  Best  System  for  China,  58 ;  Experience 
Proves  the  Wisdom  of  Scri])lure  Teachings,  68. 

V.  Beginning  Work, 

The  Study  of  the  Language,  71 ;   Beginning  Direct  Missionary 

Work,  75 ;  Independent  Individual  Work,  76 ;  Itinerating, 
77;  Assistants  or  Helpers,  78;  How  Shall  We  Reach  the 
People?  81  ;  How  Best  Expend  One's  Time?  83  ;  Mission- 
aries but  Instruments  in  Spiritual  Work,  84;  Personal  Ex- 
perience in  Beginning  Work  in  Shan-tung,  86;  IIow  may 
We  Best  Get  Out  of  "  01<1  Ruts"  ?  88. 


30 


■^5 


71 


^ 


PLANTING  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OP 
MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


THE   OLD   SYSTEM   CRITICISED 

Introductory. 

A  request  from  the  Editor  of  the  "  Chinese  Recorder  "  to 
prepare  for  pubhcation  some  account  of  the  character  and 
results  of  our  country  work  in  Shan-tung,  and  private  let- 
ters from  various  sources  asking  for  information  on  the 
same  general  subject,  have  furnished  evidence  that  such  in- 
formation may  be  of  service,  more  especiallv  to  young  mis- 
sionaries. ■ 

The  interest  which  has  been  taken  in  our  work  in  central 
-Shan-tung  by  missionaries  in  other  provinces  is  due  no 
doubt  to  the  fact  that  we  have  to  some  extent  adopted  new 
principles  and  methods.  It  is  too  early  to  determine  what 
the  final  issue  of  this  new  departure  will  be,  but  perhaps  not 
too  soon  to  derive  some  important  lessons  from  present 
facts  and  experiences  and  results  so  far  as  developed. 

Old  System  vs.  the  New. 

1.  The  adoption  of  the  new  jilan  having  been  the  result 
in  many  cases  of  difficulties  and  discouragements  in  con- 
nection with  the  previous  one,  our  present  position  will  be 
best  understood  by  considering  the  two  systems,  which 
may  for  the  sake  of  convenience  be  called  the  Old  and  tiie 
New,  in  their  relation  to  each  other.  In  the  following 
pages  we  will  present  the  reasons  which  have  led  to  the  dis- 
use of  the  former,  the  adoption  of  the  latter,  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  transition  has  been  made. 

2.  I  think'  it  may  be  stated  that  forty  years  ago,  mission- 

7 


8  PI.AiWINC    OF  MISSIONARY   CIIVKCHIiS 

aries  in  Cliiiia,  with  few  if  any  exceptions,  followed  tli'e  ( )1(1 
Method.  The  ciiange  of  view  has  not  been  sudden  but 
gra(Uial  and  always  in  the  sanie  direction,  producing  a  con- 
tinually widening  and  more  irreconcilable  breach  between 
the  two  systems.  Iherc  is  now  a  prevailing  disposition  in 
our  part  of  the  field,  at  least  among  the  missionaries  of  the 
American  Presbyterian,  the  English  ria])tist,and  the  Amer- 
ican Baptist  Missions,  to  follow  the  New  Plan,  wdiich  may 
still,  however,  be  regarded  as  in  a  formative  and  tentative 
stage  of  development. 

3.  These  two  systems  may  be  distinguished  in  general  by 
the  former  depending  largely  on  paid  native  agency,  while 
the  latter  deprecates  and  seeks  to  minimize  such  agency. 
Perlia[)s  an  e<|ually  correct  and  more  generally  acceptable 
statement  of  the  difference  would  be,  that,  while  both  alike 
seek  ultimately  the  establishment  of  independent,  self-re- 
liant, and  aggressive  native  churches,  the  Old  System 
strives  by  the  use  of  foreign  funds  to  foster  and  stimulate 
the  growth  of  the  native  churches  in  the  first  stage  of  their 
development,  and  then  gradually  to  discontinue  the  use  of 
such  funds:  while  those  wdio  adopt  the  New  System  think 
that  the  desired  object  may  be  best  attained  by  ap])lying 
principles  of  independence  and  self-reliance  from  the  begin- 
ning. The  difiference  between  these  two  theories  may  be 
more  clearly  seen  in  their  outward  practical  working.  The 
r)ld  uses  freely,  and  as  far  as  practicable,  the  more  ad- 
vanced and  intelligent  of  the  native  clutrch  members  in  the 
capacity  of  paid  colporteurs,  Bible  agents,  evangelists,  or 
heads  of  stations;  while  the  New  ])rocceds  on  the  assump- 
tion that  the  jiersons  employed  in  these  various  capacities 
would  be  more  useful  in  the  end  by  being  left  in  their 
original  homes  and  em]iloyments. 

4.  The  relative  advantages  of  these  systems  may  be  de- 
termined by  two  tests — adaptability  to  the  end  in  view,  and 
Scripture  authority.  Some  missionaries  regard  the  prin- 
ci[)les  and  practices  ado|)ted  by  the  Apostles  in  early  times 
and  recorded  in  the  Scri]iturcs  as  inapplicable  to  our 
changed  circumstances  in  China  in  this  nineteenth  century. 
Leaving  the  consideration  of  this  question  for  the  present, 
it  will  no  doubt  be  acknowledged  by  all,  that  any  plan 
which  will  bear  the  application  of  the  two  tests  of  adapta- 


TIII-    OLD   SYSTEM  CKITICISF.n  9 

bility  and  Scrii)lure  anthoritv,  has  a  nmch  stronger  claim 
upon  our  regard  and  acceptance  than  a  i)lan  which  can  only 
claim  the  sanction  of  one  test. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  the  change  of  views  of  not  a  few  of  the 
older  missionaries  in  China  is  due,  not  to  theoretical,  but 
[iractical  considerations  The  ( )ld  Svstcm  has  been  grad- 
ually discarded  because  il  did  not  work,  or  because  it 
worked  evil.  In  my  own  case  I  can  sav  that  every  change 
in  opim'on  was  brought  about  by  a  long'and  painful  experi- 
ence; and  conclusions  arrived  at  have  been  only  a  con- 
firmation of  what  I  regard  as  the  teachings  of  tl'ie  Bible. 
'I  he  same  conclusions  might  have  been  reached  with  an  im- 
mense economy  of  time  and  labor  by  simplv  following  the 
authoritative  guide  which  God  has  given  us.  If  the  New- 
System  be  indeed  sanctioned  by  Scri|)tnre  authority  as  well 
as  by  the  tests  of  practical  adaptability  and  use,  an  exchange 
or  reversal  in  the  application  of  the  names  New  and  Old 
would  be  more  in  accordance  with  fact. 

Spirit  and  Attitude  in  this  Discussion. 

1.  In  stating  what  I  regard  as  serious  objections  to  pre- 
;    vio'is  methods,  I  may  come  in  conflict  with  the  opinions  of 

my  brethren.  I  desire,  however,  to  write,  not  in  the  spirit 
of  a  critic,  nmch  less  of  a  censor,  but  as  one  earnestly  de- 
sirous of  knowing  the  truth.  I  have  in  former  years  to  a 
considerable  extent  believed  in  and  worked  upon  the  Old 
.System,  and  what  I  have  to  say  by  way  of  strictures  on  it 
may  be  considered  as  a  confession  of  personal  error,  rather 
than  of  fault-finding  with  others.  Foreigners  who  have 
come  to  China  to  devote  themselves  to  business  or  diplo- 
macy have  made  their  mistakes;  it  is  not  strange,  but 
rather  to  be  expected,  that  we  should  make  ours.  Let  us 
acknowledge  them  and  profit  by  them. 

2.  I  am  aware  that  it  is  [jossiblc  to  state  facts  in  such  a 
way  that  the  impression  given  will  be  a  false  one,  and  the 
conclusions  arrived  at  misleading.  It  will  be  my  earnest 
endeavor  in  the  ensuing  papers,  not  only  to  give  facts  and 
honest  conclusions  therefrom,  but  to  present  them  in  such 
a  way  that  the  impression  given  will  be,  if  not  always  an 
agreeable  one,  yet  strictly  true  and  just. 


lO 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY  CHVRCHES 


3.  I  wish  furtlicr  to  disclaim  all  assumption  of  ability  tn 
speak  authoritatively  on  this  subject,  as  though  1  had  my- 
self reached  its  final  solution.  Ihe  effect  of  long  experi- 
ence in  mission  work  has  been  in  my  case  to  deepen  a  sense 
of  incompetency,  and  to  excite  wonder  in  remembering  the 
inconsiderate  rashness  and  self-dependence  of  a  quarter  of  a 
century  ago.  Still,  though  we  may  not  feel  competent  to 
give  advice,  we  may  at  least  give  a  word  of  warning. 
Though  we  may  not  have  learned  what  to  do  in  certain 
cases  and  under  certain  circumstances,  is  it  not  nuich  to 
have  learned  what  not  to  do,  and  to  tread  cautiously  where 
we  do  not  know  the  way,  and  to  regard  with  hesitation  and 
suspicion  any  preconceived  opinion  which  we  know  to  be 
of  doubtful  expediency,  esjiecially  if  it  is  unauthorized  by 
Scripture  teaching  and  example? 

4.  f  gladly  recognize  the  fact  that  the  use  of  other  meth- 
ods, depending  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  on  paid  agents, 
has  in  many  cases  been  followed  with  most  happy  results; 
and  that  to  a  certain  extent  tried  and  proved  native  agents 
must  be  employed.  I  do  not  wish  to  make  invidious  com- 
parisons, nuicli  less  to  decide  where  the  happy  mean  in 
using  a  paid  agency  lies. 

5.  Let  us  bear  in  mind  that  the  best  methods  cannot  do 
away  with  the  difficulties  in  our  work  which  come  froiu  the 
world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  but  bad  methods  may  multi- 
ply and  intensify  them.  For  unavoidable  difficulties  we 
are  not  responsible;  for  those  which  arise  from  disregarcl 
of  the  teachings  of  Scrijjture  and  experience  we  are. 

6.  Let  us  also  remember  that  while  in  undertaking  the 
momentous  task  committed  to  us,  we  should  by  the  study 
of  the  Scriptures,  prayer  for  divine  guidance,  and  compar- 
ison of  our  varied  views  and  experiences,  seek  to  know 
what  is  the  best  method  of  work;  still,  the  best  method 
without  the  presence  of  our  Master  and  the  Spirit  of  all 
Truth  will  be  unavailing.  A  bad  methotl  may  be  so  bad  as 
to  make  it  unreasonable  to  expect  God's  blessing  in  con- 
nection with  it;  a  right  and  Scriptural  method,  if  we  trust 
in  it,  as  our  principal  ground  of  hope,  might  be  followed  for 
a  lifetime  without  any  good  results. 

With  this  much  by  way  of  introduction,  I  now  propose 
to  consider  some  objections  to  the  Old  Method. 


THE   OLD  SYSTEM   CRITICISED 


Old  Method  a  Natural  One. 


II 


I.  It  is  only  natural  that  missionaries  should  at  first  seek 
and  employ  niany  native  agents.  They  are  anxious  for  im- 
mediate results,  and  home  societies  and  the  home  churches 
are  as  impatient  to  hear  of  results  as  missionaries  are  to 
report  them.  No  connnunications  from  the  field  seem  so 
indicative  of  progress,  and  are  so  calculated  to  call  forth 
conuncndation  and  generous  contributions  as  the  an- 
nouncement that  native  laborers  have  been  obtained,  and 
are  preaching  the  gospel.  While  the  missionarv  himself  is 
for  months  or  years  debarred  from  evangelistic  work  by  his 
ignorance  of  the  language,  a  native  agency  stands  waiting 
his  employ.  His  circumstances  and  his  wishes  add  strong 
emphasis  to  the  oft-repeated  truism,  "  China  must  be  evan- 
gelized by  the  Chinese."  So  urgent  seems  the  necessity  to 
obtain  native  assistants,  that  if  such  as  he  would  like  are'not 
forthcoming,  Ije  is  glad  to  avail  himself  of  such  as  he  can 
get.  How  many  of  us  have  thought  in  connection  with 
some  specially  interesting  inquirer,  even  before  he  is  bap- 
tized, "  What  a  capital  assistant  that  man  may  make." 

2.  While  the  circumstances  of  the  missionary  furnish  the 
strongest  motives  to  induce  him  to  multiply  native  agents 
as  fast  as  possible,  the  circumstances  of  the  natives  nat- 
urally and  very  strongly  lead  to  the  same  result.  The 
dense  population  of  this  country,  and  the  sharp  struggle 
for  existence  which  it  necessitates,  have  developed  in  the 
Chinaman  a  singular  aptitude  for  finding  and  using  ways 
and  means  for  making  a  living.  The  comparatively  ex- 
pensive mode  of  life,  as  a  rule  absolutely  necessary  for  for- 
eigners, in  order  to  live  in  China  with  anv  reasonable  hope 
of  health  and  usefulness,  naturally  suggests  the  idea  to  the 
native  that  so  intimate  a  relation  as  that  which  subsists  be- 
tween a  teacher  and  his  disciples  will  in  this  case  undoubt- 
edly prove  a  profitable  one.  The  I^amine  Relief  work  in 
the  northern  provinces  left  the  impression  that  foreigners 
have  money  in  abundance,  and  are  very  ready  to  give  it  to 
those  in  need;  and  there  are  many  about  us  now  as  much 
in  need  as  some  who  received  aid  during  the  famine.  It  is 
not  .strange,  but  only  human,  that  natives  under  these  cir- 
ctnnstanccs  should  see  their  opportunity  and  make  the  most 
of  it. 


12  ri.ANTlNG    Ol-    MISSIONARY   CHURCHES 

X,.  Willi  these  strong  motives  in  tlie  minds  of  the  mis 
sioiiaries  and  natives  eonspirinjj;  \.o  the  same  result,  it  is  not 
vvitliont  exense  that  we  should  have  fallen  into  what  1  now 
believe  is  a  serious  mistake,  uttei  ty  unaware  of  the  danf^'cr 
and  injury  to  the  mission  eause  whieh  ten,  twcntv  or  thirt 
years  of  experience  liavc  diselosed.  In  tiiis  oi)inion  I  am 
not  alone;  and  it  is  a  significant  fact  tliat  those  who  hold  it 
are  for  the  most  part  persons  w  ho  have  had  a  long  experi 
ence  on  mission  ground.  To  some,  these  lessons  have 
come  too  late  to  be  of  nuich  service  to  them  individually, 
but  they  will  be  none  the  less  useful  to  those  who  are  willing 
to  profit  by  the  experiences  of  others. 

4.  I  fully  recognize  the  fact  that  the  employment  and  pay 
of  nati\'c  laborers  is,  under  suitable  circumstances,  legiti 
mate  and  desirable,  as  much  so  as  the  employment  and  pay 
of  foreigners.  Mere,  however,  the  important  question 
arise,  who  shall  lie  employed,  and  when  and  how  shall  they 
be  employed?  These  (luestions  will  come  up  for  consider 
ation  in  the  course  of  this  series  of  articles. 

Objections  to  the  Old  Method. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  objections  to  what  we 
have  agreed  to  call  the  "  Old  System  "  : 

I.  Making  paid  agents  of  new  converts  affects  injurious- 
ly the  stations  with  w  hich  they  are  connected. 

A  well-informed  and  influential  man.  perhaps  the  leading 
spirit  in  a  new  station,  is  one  who  can  be  ill-S|)ared.  Hi 
removal  may  be  most  disastrous  to  the  station,  and  he  him- 
self may  never  find  elsewhere  such  an  opportunitv  for  doing 
good.  I  have  in  mind  four  persons  who  about  twentv 
eight  years  ago  gave  great  promise  of  usefulness  in  their 
homes  in  connection  with  our  out-stations  in  Ning-po 
While  working  with  their  hands  in  their  several  callings 
they  bore  testimony  to  the  truth  wherever  they  went,  an<l 
were  exciting  great  interest  in  their  own  neighborhoods,  ll 
was  not  long,  however,  before  these  men  were  cmplo\e(l, 
one  by  one  mission,  another  by  another,  and  the  interest 
Christianity  in  and  about  their  homes  ceased.  It  is  to  be 
lio])ed  that  they  did  some  good  in  the  positions  which  thev 
afterward  occupied,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  of 


THE    OLD   SYSTEM   CRITICISED 


13 


any  one  of  tlieiii,  that  his  after  career  was  a  specially  useful 
one.  1  refer  to  these  cases  not  as  unusual  and  exce|)tional. 
I  could  add  many  others  from  Che-ehiang  and  Shan-lung, 
and  [  doubt  not  that  similar  instances  will  occur  to  the 
minds  of  most  missionaries  who  read  this  jiaper. 

'Hie  injury  to  a  station  in  these  cases  docs  not  consist 
simjily  in  the  loss  of  the  man's  influence  for  good;  positive 
evil  is  introduced.  Envy,  jealousy  and  dis.satisfaction 
with  their  lot  are  very  apt  to  be  excited  in  the  minds  of 
those  who  are  left.  Others  think  that  thev  also  should  be 
employed,  if  not  as  preachers,  as  servants,  or  in  some  other 
cajiacity.  It  would  be  a  less  serious  matter  if  this  feeling 
could  be  confined  to  the  station  where  it  originates,  but  uii^ 
fortunately  it  extends  to  other  places  and  there  produces 
the  .same  injurious  efTects.  The  religions  interest  which 
passed  like  a  wave  over  the  neighborhood,  gives  place  to 
another  wave  of  excitement,  and  the  topics  of  conversation 
are  now  place  and  pay.  The  man  emploved  has  lost  very 
much  the  character  he  bore  as  a  disinterested  worker  for  the 
spiritual  good  of  others,  and  is  now  likely  to  be  regarderl  by 
many  as  a  kind  of  employ-agent  who  ought  to  use  his  in- 
fluence to  get  them  places. 

2.  Making  a  paid  agent  of  a  new  convert  often  proves  an 
injury  to  him  personally. 

He  is  placed  in  a  position  unfavorable  to  the  development 
of  a  strong,  healthy,  Christian  character.  Some  of  these 
men.  originally  farmers,  shopkeepers,  pedlers  or  laborers 
in  the  fields,  find  themselves  advanced  to  a  position  for 
which  they  are  by  previous  habits  and  training  unsuited. 
The  long  gown  and  the  affected  scholarlv  air  are  not  be- 
coming to  them,  and  they  naturally  lose  the  respect  of  their 
neighbors  and  their  influence  over  them.  Men  who  were 
self-reliant  and  aggressive  in  their  original  jiositions,  now 
perform  their  routine  labors  in  a  formal  and  perfunctory 
manner.  Some,  on  the  other  hand,  are  puffed  up  wth 
pride  and  self-conceit,  and  become  arrogant  and  offensive. 
Here  again  I  am  not  theorizing,  but  speaking  from  exjieri- 
cnce,  and  could  nniltiply  cases — as  I  presume  most  mis- 
sionaries could — of  deterioration  of  character  in  both  direc- 
tions above  indicated. 

No  doubt  the  employment  of  some  of  these  men  has  been 


14 


PLANTIMG    OF  MISSWNARV  CHURCHES 


followed  by  good  results,  Init  it  is  still  a  question  whether 
they  niiglit  not  have  accomplished  more  liad  thev  been  left 
where  tlicy  were  found.  Some  of  them  have  proved  most 
unsatisfactory  to  their  emjiloycrs,  but  are  retained  in  their 
places  from  year  to  year,  because  it  seems  an  injustice  to 
send  tlieni  back  to  a  mode  of  life  for  which  they  have  be- 
come unfitted.  Others  have  been  dismissed  from  service, 
and  returned  to  their  homes  disappointed  and  aggrieved: 
while  not  a  few  when  they  have  been  dropped  as  enijiloyees 
have  dropped  their  Christianity,  brought  reproach  upon 
the  cause  of  Christ,  become  the  enemies  of  the  Church,  and 
given  evidence  that  they  were  only  hirelings — never  fit  to 
be  enrolled  either  as  preachers  or  as  church  members. 

3.  The  Old  System  makes  it  difficult  to  judge  between 
the  true  and  false,  whether  as  preachers  or  as  church  mem- 
bers. 

That  the  Chinese  are  adepts  in  dissembling,  no  one  who 
has  been  long  in  China  will  deny.  The  fact  that  not  a  few 
who  were  earnest  preachers  have  fallen  away  when  they 
have  ceased  to  be  employed  has  already  been  referred  to. 
How  many  others  there  are  now  in  employ  whose  profes- 
sions are  suspended  on  their  pay  no  one  can  tell.  The  Chi- 
nese are  close  analysts  of  character,  and  know  how  to  adapt 
themselves  to  circumstances  and  individuals.  They  are 
less  apt  to  deceive  their  own  people  than  foreigners,  and 
less  apt  to  deceive  others  than  those  by  whom  they  are  em- 
ployed. The  desire  that  the  native  preacher  may  prove  a 
true  man  biases  the  judgment.  Doubtless  the  man  em- 
ployed is  often  self-deceived. 

I  have  had  a  considerable  number  of  intelligent,  and  to 
all  appearances  sincere  Christians,  connected  with  my  sta- 
tions, who  fell  back  and  left  the  Church  when  they  found 
they  were  not  to  be  employed.  These  and  a  still  larger 
number  of  inquirers,  who  learned  during  the  time  of  their 
probation  that  there  was  very  little  hope  of  getting  place 
and  pay  and  fell  back  before  they  were  baptized,  would  in 
all  probability,  if  their  desire  for  employment  had  been 
gratified,  be  found  to-day  in  the  Church,  sustaining  perhaps 
a  fair  reputation  as  preachers  or  evangelists. 

What  lesson  are  we  to  learn  from  these  facts  and  experi- 
ences?    Is  it  not  this,  that  so  long  as  a  free  use  is  made  of 


•g^jmm 


Tl/F.    01. n   SYSTEM   CRITICISEP 


'5 


new  converts  a<;  paid  preachers,  we  dcjirivc  ourselves  „f  one 
of  tiic  most  effective  means  of  separating  the  chaff  from  the 
wheat,  and  of  assuring  ourselves  liiai  tlie  men  we  are  em- 
plovmg  are  what  we  hope  they  are,  and  that  we  arc  not 
building,  or  vamly  altem])ting  to  build,  on  a  bad  founda- 
tion. 

4-  The  Employment  System  tends  to  excite  a  mercenary 
spirit,  and  to  increase  the  number  of  mercenary  Christians 
Of  course  we  fully  ac'mit  that  maiiv  paid  agents  are  sin- 
cere, earnest  men  and  that  thev  bring  into  tlie  Ciiurch  sin- 
cere and  earnest  believers,  some  perhaps  who  would  not 
otherwise  be  reached.  We  are  here  simply  pointing  out  an 
evil  influence  and  tendency  which  are  connected  with  one 
system  and  avoided  by  the  other.  A  man  will  sometimes 
be  found  who  will  listen  to  a  native  preacher,  apparently 
much  interested,  but  knowing  and  caring  very  little  about 
what  IS  said.  When  he  finds  an  opportunity,  he  obtains 
from  the  preacher,  directly  or  indirectly,  a  knowledge  of 
what  pay  he  gets  and  how  he  obtained  his  position.  This 
man  perhaps  becomes  a  diligent  student  of  the  Scriptures 
and  i)asses  an  excellent  examination  as  a  candidate  for  bap- 
tism ;  but  he  IS  interested  in  Christianity  only  as  a  means  to 
an  end.  When  this  mercenary  spirit  enters  a  church  it 
has  a  wonderful  self-propagating  power  and  follows  the 
universal  law  of  propagating  after  its  kind.  The  merce- 
nary preacher,  whether  paid  or  hoping  to  be  paid,  as  natu- 
rally draws  to  himself  others  of  like  affinities  as  a  mamiet 
attracts  iron  filings. 

In  one  of  the  districts  of  this  province  there  seemed  a  few 
years  since  to  be  an  unusual  religious  awakening.  The  in- 
terest spread  from  town  to  town,  the  number  of  intjuirers 
was  large,  and  hundreds  of  apparently  sincere  believers 
were  gathered  into  the  Church.  It  was  afterward  found 
that  the  movement  was  due  largely  to  mercenary  motives 
of  different  kinds,  both  in  the  pro[)agating  agents,  and  in 
those  who  were  influenced  by  them.  That  district  now 
seems  to  be  struck  with  a  blight.  The  larger  part  of  those 
who  were  received  are  now  cxcommunicatal  or  under  dis- 
cipline :  a  very  unfavorable  impression  has  been  made  upon 
the  people  generally,  and  persons  sincerely  interested  in  the 
truth  are  kept  back  from  seeking  a  connection  with  the 


i6 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


Clinrcli  hy  tlie  imwortliy  examples  of  its  mc'iiil)(,'is.  In  this 
district,  Sliiii-kiiaiit;,  tlicrr  is  little  hope  of  anything  l)ciiig 
accomijlishcd  until  after  the  pinning  process  has  been  car- 
ried still  farther,  and  we  can  make  a  new  and  better  bcgin- 
ning.  It  is  nuicli  easier  to  get  unworthy  members  into  the 
Chnrcli  than  it  is  to  get  them  out  of  it,  and  very  little  good 
can  be  accomplished  while  they  hang  upon  it  as  an  incubus. 

5.  The  Employment  System  tends  to  stO|)  the  voluntary 
work  of  im])aid  agents. 

The  question  naturally  arises  in  the  mind  of  the  new 
convert,  "  If  other  persons  are  paid  for  preaching  why 
should  not  I  be?"  Under  the  influence  of  jealousy  and 
discontent  it  is  easy  to  go  a  step  farther  and  say,  "  If  the 
missionary  is  so  blind  or  so  unjust  as  not  to  see  or  acknowl- 
edge my  claims  to  be  employed  as  others  are,  I  will  leave 
the  work  of  spreading  Christianity  to  those  wdio  are  ])aid 
for  it."  This  again  is  not  an  imaginary  case  but  a  conuuon 
ex[)crience.  It  is  evident  that  the  two  systems  are  luutually 
antagonistic,  and  whenever  an  attempt  is  made  to  carry 
them  on  together,  the  voluntary  system  labors  under  al- 
most insurmountable  difficulties.  This  is  a  serious  objec- 
tion to  the  Old  System,  that  it  stands  in  the  way  of  the 
other,  and  makes  the  success  of  it  well-nigh  impossible. 

6.  The  Old  System  tends  to  lower  the  character  and 
lessen  the  influence  of  the  missionary  enterprise,  both  in  the 
eyes  of  foreigners  and  natives. 

The  opprobrious  epithet,  "  Rice  Christians,"  has  gained 
almost  universal  currency  in  the  East,  as  expressive  of  the 
foreigners'  estiiuate  of  the  actual  results  of  missionary 
work.  This  unfavorable  judgment,  formed  by  those  wdio 
are  supposed,  as  eye-witnesses,  to  have  good  grounds  for 
it,  finds  its  way  to  Christian  nations  in  the  West,  who  sup- 
port missions,  and  prejudices  the  missionary  cause  in  the 
opinion  of  those  who  would  otherwise  be  its  sympathetic 
supporters.  It  is  a  serious  (piestion  how  far  missionaries 
arc  to  blame  for  this.  While  we  resent  as  false  the  sweep- 
ing generalization  which  would  include  all  Christians  in 
Cliina.  or  the  larger  part  of  them,  in  this  category,  it  is 
worse  than  useless  to  ignore  the  readiness  of  large  classes 
of  Chinamen  to  Ijecome  "  Rice  Christians,"  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  determining  who  do,  and  who  do  not,  belong  to 


TIIF.    oil)  SYSTF.M    CRITICISED 


17 


this  class.  We  nuist  also  admit  the  fact,  that  not  a  few 
of  those  who  have  found  their  way  into  the  Church  have 
proved,  after  years  of  trial,  to  be  oidy  "  Rice  Christians." 
The  idea  of  getting  rid  of  such  altogether  is  undoubtedly 
a  fallacious  one.  They  have  been  connected  with  the 
Church,  and  ()robably  will  be,  in  all  lands  and  in  every  age. 
Still,  as  this  rejjroach  has  resulted  largel>-  from  the  fact 
that  hitherto  a  considerable  proportion  of  native  Chris- 
tians have  "  eaten  the  missionary's  rice,"  one  effective  way 
for  removing  the  re|)roach  is  obvious. 

The  injurious  effects  of  the  paid-agent  systeiu  on  the 
mass  of  the  Chinese  population  outside  of  the  Church,  are 
perhaps  still  greater.  The  general  opinion  of  the  China- 
man as  to  the  luotive  of  one  of  his  countrymen  in  projia- 
galing  a  foreign  religion,  is  that  it  is  a  mercenary  one. 
When  he  learns  that  the  native  preacher  is  in  fact  ])aid  by 
foreigners,  he  is  confirmed  in  his  judgment.  What  the 
motive  is  which  actuates  the  foreign  luissionary,  a  motive 
so  strong  that  he  is  willing  to  waste  life  and  money  in  what 
seems  a  fruitless  enterprise,  he  is  left  to  imagine.  The 
most  common  explanation  is  that  it  is  a  covert  scheme  for 
buying  adherents  with  a  view  to  political  movements  in- 
iiuical  to  the  state.  Of  course  it  is  supposed  that  no  loyal 
native  will  have  anything  to  do  with  such  a  luovement.  If 
the  Chinaiuan  is  told  that  this  enterprise  is  prompted  by 
disinterested  motives,  and  intended  for  the  good  of  his  peo- 
ple, he  is  incredulous.  Simple  professions  and  protesta- 
tions have  little  weight  with  him,  in  comparison  with  his 
own  interpretation  of  facts.  Observing  that  in  some  of 
our  stations  only  those  who  are  employed  and  paid  remain 
firm  in  their  adherence  to  the  foreigner,  while  not  a  few'  of 
the  others  fall  back,  his  opinion  is  still  further  confirmed: 
and  he  looks  on  with  quiet  complacency  and  rallies  his  un- 
successful neighbors  on  their  having  fallen  behind  their 
competitors  in  their  scramble  for  money.  Here  again  I 
am  not  imagining  what  may  happen  in  the  future,  but  am 
stating  what  has  actually  occurred.  The  result  is  that 
many  well-disposed  Chinamen  of  the  belter  classes,  who 
might  be  brought  under  Christian  influences,  are  repelled, 
and  those  who  actually  find  their  way  into  the  Church  are 
composed  largely  of  two  opposite  classes — those  whose 


i8 


PLANTrNG    OF  MISSIONARY  CIlUnCHES 


lioncsl  convictions  are  so  stroiip  that  tlicy  outwcigli  and 
overcome  all  obstacles,  and  unworthy  persons  to  whom 
that  feature  in  mission  work  which  we  are  controverting  is 
its  chief  attraction. 

Now  we  readily  admit  tliat  wliatcvcr  course  we  may 
take,  the  C  hinese  in  general  will  still  regard  us  as  foreign 
emissaries,  our  religion  as  a  feint  and  our  converts  as 
mercenaries.  What  we  deprecate  is,  gratuitously  furnish- 
ing what  will  be  regarded  as  conclusive  evidence  that  these 
unfavorable  oiiinions  are  well  founded.  Our  enemies  are 
sufficiently  formidable  without  our  giving  them  an  unnec- 
essary advantage.  The  obstacles  which  oppose  us  are 
sufficiently  appalling  without  our  adding  to  them  and  in 
this  way  postponing  the  time  of  final  success. 

'l"he  above  arc  some  of  the  princijial  objections  which 
may  be  urged  against  the  paid-agent  scheme.  We  will 
next  consider  what  we  regard  as  a  better  and  more  Script- 
ural way. 


II 

HOW  DEAL  WITH  NEW  CONVERTS? 

The  reception  of  first  converts  in  any  niissi(jn  is  an  eirach 
fruitful  (if  conse(|uences  for  good  or  evil.  The  course  pur- 
sued at  this  time  will  establish  precedents,  and  in  a  great 
measure  fix  the  policy  and  determine  the  character  of  the 
Church  of  the  future.  How  then  shall  these  first  converts 
be  dealt  with?  To  this  weighty  question  the  Scriptures 
furnish  us  some  ready  answers. 

Abiding  in  the  Old  Calling. 

1.  The  command  of  i  Cor.  vii.  20,  "  Let  each  man  abide 
in  that  calling  wherein  he  was  called,"  is  repeated  in  a  dif- 
ferent form  in  the  twenty-fourth  verse  of  the  same  chapter, 
"  Brethren,  let  each  man,  wherein  he  was  called,  therein 
abide  with  God."  This  Apostolic  injunction  we  are  fur- 
ther told  was  ordained  "  for  all  the  Churches."  It  teaches 
most  emphatically  that  Christianity  should  not  disturb  the 
social  relations  of  its  adherents,  but  requires  them  to  be 
content  with  their  lot,  and  to  illustrate  the  Gospel  in  the 
spheres  of  life  in  wiiich  they  are  called.  How  many  of  us 
have  given  these  passages  of  Scripture  that  weight  of  au- 
thority which  they  deserve?  How  many  of  us  have  real- 
ized that  in  taking  untried  Christians  out  of  the  positions 
in  which  God  has  called  them  and  making  evangelists  of 
them,  we  may  be  literally,  though  unconsciously,  opposing 
a  divine  purpose.  Such  a  course  directly  tends  to  unsettle 
the  minds  of  new  converts  and  excites  the  very  feelings  of 
restlessness  and  discontent  which  this  command  seems 
specially  designed  to  prevent. 

2.  It  may  be  objected  that  the  literal  carrying  out  of  this 
injunction  would  prevent  missionaries  ever  employing 
any  native  assistants,  and  would  in  fact  have  prevented  our 

19 


20 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY  Clf OUCHES 


coming  to  China  or  entering  tlie  ministry.  This  objec- 
tion, so  far  as  it  has  any  weight,  lies  against  the  Scripture 
itself.  It  may  be  remarked,  however,  that  all  Scripture 
connnands  are  limited  and  conditioned  by  other  Scripture 
teachings  and  are  to  be  interpreted  by  them.  This  pas- 
sage does  not  determine  whether  a  man  is  to  abide  where 
he  is  called  jicrmanently  or  only  tem]iorarily.  This  is  a 
(|uestion  to  be  left  to  the  future.  Special  providences  af- 
terward may  indicate  a  further  and  different  divine  pur- 
pose no  less  clearly.  So  Paul  did  not  hesitate,  when  the 
proper  time  had  come,  to  remove  Timothy  from  Lystra, 
and  there  was  no  inconsistency  in  his  doing  so. 

As  for  ourselves,  we  entered  the  ministry  because  we  be- 
lieved we  had  a  divine  call  to  it;  and  the  Church  has  sent 
us  to  China  because  it  concurred  in  this  opinion,  and  con- 
sidered our  characters  sufificicntly  tested  and  proved  to 
warrant  our  being  sent  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel,  with  a 
reasonable  assurance  that  we  had  renounced  worldly  aims 
and  worldly  advantages  to  give  our  lives  to  the  service  of 
Christ.  All  we  insist  on  is  that  the  same  principles  and 
the  same  prudence  should  be  used  in  dealing  with  the 
Chinese. 

3.  In  determining  whether  this  command  to  let  every 
man  abide  in  his  calling  is  applicable  and  binding  at  jires- 
cnt,  it  is  undoubtedly  legitimate  to  incpiire  whether  there 
may  not  be  special  reasons  in  this  present  time  which  over- 
rule and  annul  it.  I  can  think  of  none  except  such  as  we 
may  regard  as  growing  out  of  our  special  circumstances. 
For  instance,  we  may  liave  been  praying  for  laborers  for 
the  "  great  harvest,"  or  more  specifically  that  God  would 
give  us  a  native  agent  to  occupy  an  important  station  at 

,  and  we  say:   "  Is  not  this  the  man  God  has  sent  for 

this  very  object?"  We  should  not  forget,  however,  that 
when  this  injunction  was  given  there  was  as  great  need  of 
workers  and  as  many  important  places  were  waiting  to  be 
occuiiied  as  now. 

The  object  we  all  have  in  view  is  of  course  to  secure  the 
greatest  usefulness  of  the  convert,  and  the  greatest  good 
to  the  common  cause.  Now  if  the  young  Christian  seems 
to  have  qualifications  for  making  a  good  evangelist,  is  he 
not  just  the  man  wanted  to  develop  the  work  wliere  he  is? 


now 


DEAL    IVITII  NEW   CONIEHTS? 


21 


And  wMll  not  further  experience  at  home  fit  him  all  the 
better  for  domg  other  work  to  which  he  may  be  calle<l  in 
tlie  future,  when  perhaps  he  may  be  sj.ared  from  his  station 
without  Us  sulfermg  in  consecpience?  God's  designs  with 
rdercnce  to  this  man  are  wiser  than  ours.  Let  us  wait  for 
tho.se  designs  to  develop,  as  thev  surelv  will,  and  follow 
carefully  as  we  are  led. 

4-  Other  jiassagcs  of  Scripture  place  our  dutv  in  this 
matter  in  a  still  clearer  light.  "  Not  a  novice,  lest  being 
puffed  up  he  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the  devil  "  By 
one  rash  and  unauthorized  step  we  mav  inHict  an  irrepara- 
ble injury  on  the  person  in  whom  we  are  .so  much  inter- 
ested, and  destroy  all  hopes  of  his  hiture  usefulness    Again 

l^e  not  many  teachers,  my  brethren,  knowing  that  we 
shal  receive  heavier  judgment."  This  is  a  warning  to 
\yould-be  teachers,  and  may  be  applied  with  etiual  force  to 
those  who  would  gratuitously  assume  the  responsibilitv  of 
recommending  and  employing  teachers,  without  suffic'ient 
Scriptural  grounds  for  doing  so.     Again  we  are  taught  ■ 

Lay  hands  hastily  on  no  man,  neither  be  partaker  of 
other  men  s  sins;  keep  thyself  pure."  The  pertinencv  of 
these  passages  is  too  obvious  to  require  lengthened'  re- 
marks. ^ 

Importance  of  Precedents. 

I.  The  Chinese  are  remarkable  for  their  tendency  to  fol- 
low a  hxed  routine,  and  to  be  governed  by  precedents  If 
the  hrst  convert  is  soon  employed,  those' who  follow  will 
expect  to  be  also.  If  the  f^rst  station  is  supplied  with  a 
chapel,  succeeding  ones  will  require  the  same,  and  so  on 
indefinitely.  As  a  matter  of  precedent,  the  question  as  to 
uhcthcr  the  Gospel  shall  be  first  introduced  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  paid  or  unpaid  agents  is  of  such"  importance 
as  to  deserve  very  careful  attention.  Here  again  we  get 
light  from  Scripture.  Nothing  is  more  strikingly  charac- 
eristic  of  the  missionary  methods  of  the  Apostle  I'aul  than 
Ills  purpose  to  preach  the  Gospel  freely  or  "  without 
charge.  He  gives  us  very  clearly  his  reason  for  doing 
tins.  tor  yourselves  know  how  ve  ought  to  imitate  us- 
lor  we  behaved  not  ourselves  di.sorderlv  among  you- 
neither  did  we  eat  bread  for  nought  at  any  man's  hand'  but 


22 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY   CUVKCIIRS 


in  labor  and  travail,  worldiig  niglit  and  day,  that  \vc  might 
not  biuden  any  of  you:  not  because  we  have  not  the  right, 
but  to  make  ourselves  an  ensample  mito  you,  that  ye  should 
imitate  us.  For  even  when  we  were  with  you,  this  we 
conunanded  you,  If  any  man  will  not  work,  neither  let 
him  cat.  For  we  hear  of  some  that  walk  among  you  dis- 
orderly, that  work  not  at  all,  but  are  busybodies.  Now 
them  that  arc  such  \vc  command  and  exhort  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  that  with  t|uietncss  they  work,  and  cat  their 
own  brcail."  2  Thess.  iii.  7-12.  There  were  in  Thessa- 
lonica  and  other  places  in  Greece,  as  there  are  now  in 
China,  idlers,  busybodies  or  disorderly  persons,  who  would 
fain  live  without  work.  From  such  persons  Paul  appre- 
hended great  danger  to  the  infant  Church ;  and  he  not  only 
denounced  them  in  uns|)aring  terms,  but  determined  by 
his  own  e.\am[)le  to  furnish  a  precedent  which  would  have 
more  weight  in  establishing  a  fixed  usage  in  the  Church 
than  anything  he  coidd  say.  In  addressing  the  Ephesiaii 
elders  he  gives  the  same  reason  for  the  course  adopted. 
"  Ye  yourselves  know,  that  these  hands  ministered  unto 
my  necessities,  and  to  them  that  were  w'ith  me.  In  all 
things  I  gave  you  an  example  how  that  so  laboring  ye 
ought  to  help  the  weak,  and  to  remember  the  words  of  tlie 
Lord  Jesus,  how  he  himself  said,  It  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive."    Acts  xx.  34-35. 

2.  The  Apostle  in  the  ninth  chapter  of  First  Corinthians 
lays  down  the  general  rule  that,  as  a  matter  of  right,  the 
teacher  should  depend  for  his  temporal  support  on  the 
taught;  still  in  first  introducing  the  Gospel  to  a  heathen 
people,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  waive  this  privilege.  The  ex- 
ample which  he  set  was  that  of  a  preacher  not  having  his 
influence  curtailed  by  the  susjiicion  that  he  is  laboring  for 
pay.  While  the  Church  at  home  has  decided  that  in  lands 
where  Christian  institutions  are  established  the  pastor 
should  depend  for  his  support  on  his  flock  and  abstain  from 
secular  employments,  I  believe  it  is  best,  at  least  in  the  first 
stage  of  mission  work,  for  the  native  evangelist  to  follow 
Paul's  example.  Take  a  man  laboring  on  the  plane  of  his 
ordinary  life  as  an  earnest  Christian  and  make  him  a  paid 
laborer,  and  vou  deprive  him  of  half  bis  influence.  It  may 
be  said  that  by  paying  him  you  enable  him  to  give  all  his 


now  DEAL    WITH  NEW  CONVERTS 'i 


23 


time  to  evangelistic  work.  .Still  it  is  a  fair  (piestion— \ye 
are  now  speaking  of  new  converts — whether  a  man  will 
accomplish  more  for  good  in  the  end  by  preaching,  or  by 
simply  living  Christianity.  The  examples  that  we  want 
are  those  of  men  illustrating  Christianity  during  six  days 
of  secular  work,  as  well  as  by  one  day  of  .Sai)bath  ob- 
servance. Such  men  and  such  women  ])resent  Christianity 
in  the  concrete.  They  are  "  cities  set  on  a  hill,"  "  epistles 
known  and  read  of  all  men."  When  stations  multiply  after 
this  type  they  strike  root  into  the  soil.  There  is  life  and  ag- 
gressiveness in  them. 

3.  Some  will  probably  ask,  "  Why  do  not  missionaries 
themselves  work  with  their  own  hands  and  set  the  same 
example  that  Paul  did?"     If  circumstances  were  the  same, 
and  the  course  chosen  by  the  Apostle  were  now  practica- 
ble and  would  secure  the  same  end  that  it  did  in  his  case, 
it  ought  to  be  adopted,  and  1  believe  missionaries  would 
adojit  it  gladly.     The  reason  why  we  do  not  is,  that  doing 
so  m  our  case  would  defeat  the  object  aimed  at.     Our  cir- 
cumstances as  foreign  tnissionaries  in  China  are  different 
from  those  of  the  Apostle  Paul  in  aliuost  every  particular. 
He  was  a  Roman  citizen  in  the  Roman  empire.     He  la- 
bored in  his  native  climate;  was    master  of  Greek  and 
Hebrew,  the  two  languages  required  for  prosecuting  his 
work;  and  his  physical  and  intellectual  training  had  been 
the  same  as  those  with  whom  and  for  whom  he  labored. 
We,  in  coming  to  China,  are  obliged  from  the  first  to  un- 
dertake the  work  of  ac(|uiring  a  spoken  and  a  written  lan- 
guage, both  very  difticult,  taxing  mind  and  body  to  the 
utmost,  and  demanding  all  our  time  and  energies.     We 
have  to  submit  to  the  disadvantage  and  drudgery  of  learn- 
ing in  comparatively  advanced  life — so  far  as  we  are  able 
to  do  it — what    the    Chinaman    learns,  and  what  Paul 
learned,  in  childhood  and  early  manhood.     Besides,  for  a 
foreigner  to  supjMjrt  himself  in  China  in  competition  with 
natives  in  anv  (lepartment  of  manual  labor  is  manifestly 
impracticable,  and  one  attempting  to  do  so  would  diminish 
rather  than  increase  his  influence.     Were  it  practicable  and 
consistent  with  duty,  how  many  of  us  who  have  a  natural 
taste  for  mechanics,  or  agriculture,    or    business,  would 
gladly  spend  a  portion  of  our  time  in  these  pursuits,  rather 


24 


PLAATJA'G    OF  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


HOW  DEAI.    WITH  NEW  CONVERTS  { 


25 


tliaii  in  llie  wearisome  work  of  tlie  study.  Is  it  not  ol)vi''.Lis 
that  tlie  only  persons  wlio  can  furnish  in  Cliina  the  nuicli 
ncedeil  example  of  propagating^  Christianity  while  tlicv 
lahor  w  ilii  their  own  hands,  are  not  I'liiro|)eans,  but  natives 
laboring  for  and  among  their  own  ])eople? 

4.  The  im])ortance  of  trusting  at  first  mainly  to  volun- 
tary unpaid  agency,  or  rather  to  the  inlluence  of  Christian 
men  and  women  remaining  in  their  original  callings,  may 
be  further  shown  by  other  considerations.  It  is  a  preva- 
lent idea  in  China  that  diligent  and  successful  attention  to 
temporal  and  religious  matters  at  the  same  tiiue  is  impos- 
sible. We  often  hear  the  remark  from  Chinamen,  "  I  am 
tired  of  the  world  and  its  emplo\nients,  and  should  like  to 
enter  the  religion,"  tiie  true  interpretation  of  which  gen- 
erally is,  that  the  man  would  like  to  avoid  work  and  live  on 
the  "  Chiao-hui."  Another  says,  "  Christianity  is  good,  but 
I  must  earn  a  living  for  my  family."  Sometimes  this  is  a 
mere  excuse  and  sometimes  it  expresses  a  man's  honest 
conviction,  that  an  effort  to  lead  a  Christian  life  will  inter- 
fere with  his  temporal  prospects.  I  believe  that  nothing 
is  more  important  to  the  success  of  our  work  than  to  do 
away  witii  this  idea,  and  this  can  be  best  accomplished  bv 
living  examples  showing  that  a  man  may  be  a  good  Chris- 
tian and  a  good  farmer  or  artisan  at  the  same  time;  or  in 
other  words,  that  "  Godliness  is  profitable  for  all  things, 
having  the  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and  of  that  w  hich 
is  to  come."  Even  voluntary  and  unpaid  preaching  is  not 
to  be  compared  for  wholesome  inlluence  to  earnest,  con- 
sistent. Christian  lives.  The  secret  of  the  world's  evangeli- 
zation is  to  be  found  in  the  words  of  our  Saviour,  "  So  let 
your  light  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good 
works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  Heaven." 

During  the  last  few  years  I  have  often  found  it  necessarv 
to  exhort  and  remonstrate  with  some  of  my  people  in  sucli 
language  as  the  following:  "  Though  it  is  commendable 
for  you  to  visit  your  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  to  talk 
to  them  about  Christianity  when  you  have  time  to  do  so, 
you  must  not  neglect  your  business.  Your  usefulness  as 
a  Christian,  the  religious  interests  of  your  station,  and  the 
spread  of  the  (iospel  in  the  neighborhood,  depend  largely 
on  your  success  and  prosperity  in  temporal  matters.     If 


you  neglect  vour  business  and  run  in  debt  and  are  obliged 
to  sell  one  acre  of  land  this  ycaf  and  two  the  next,  you  will 
he  a  warning  to  all  your  neighbors  and  they  will  point  to 
vou  and  sav, '  Ileware  of  the  Christian  religion;  our  friend 

entered  it  and  in  a  few  years  he  and  his  family  were 

brought  to  want.'  If  this  is  the  outcome  of  your  life  in 
lemporal  things,  all  your  preaching  to  your  neighbors  will 
<lo  little  good." 

^    Some  will  sav  that  depending  largely  upon  the  volun- 
tary and  mii)aid  labor  of  native  Christians  for  the  prop- 
a-'ation  of  the  Cospel  is  pre-supposing  a  larger  amount 
oT  zeal  and  devotion  on  their  part  than  is  found  among 
Christians  at  home.     If  this  is  true,  so  much  the  worse 
for  Christians  at  home.     I  believe  the  contrary,  however. 
There  is  a  great  arniv  of  active  workers  at  home,  as  well 
as  idlers      As  to  voung  converts  in  our  country  stations, 
it  is  a  fact  that  thev  are  willing  t(j  do  this  work  and  able 
to  do  it,  and  still  further  that  they  do  it.     In  the  early  liis- 
lorv  of  the  Church,  as  recorded  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles 
Ch'ristianitv  spread  chieflv  through  the  voluntary  zeal  oi 
ordinary  church  members,  and  the  work  of  the  Apostles 
consisted  mainlv   in   superintending  and  organizing  the 
companies  of  Christians  thus  gathered.     Their  zea    was 
so  great  that  i)ersccution  could  not  repress,  but  only  m- 
tentihed  it.     If  there  is  not    that  zeal  and  efTort  in  the 
Church  at  home,  it  is  much  to  be  deplored.     Perhaps  the 
want  of  it  is  due  in  a  great  measure  to  a  growing  habit  of 
leaving  work  for  Christ  to  be  done  by  those  who  are  paid 
for  it      Where  such  an  idea  prevails,  whether  at  home  or 
on  missionary  ground,  it  tends  to  paralyze  the  power  of 
the  Church  for  good.  . 

6  It  mav  be  objected  further  that  this  aggressive  zeal 
to  which  I  have  referred  is  due  largely  to  the  expectation 
of  being  emploved,  and  that  for  this  reason  it  is  not  to  be 
relied  upon,  since  it  will  decline  as  the  hope  of  employ- 
ment diminishes.  There  is  no  doubt  much  truth  in  this. 
Shall  we  then  knowinglv  and  deliberately  pander  to  this 
mercenary  spirit,  and,  bv  continuing  to  employ  new  con- 
verts increase  and  perpetuate  an  evil  which  we  deplore? 
or  shall  we  not  rather  bv  refraining  from  employing  them 
put  a  slop  to  the  evil  as  soon  as  possible?    While,  how- 


26 


PLANTING   OF  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


HOW   DEAL    ]\Tril   NEW   CONVERTS? 


27 


ever,  without  doubt  some  of  tliese  voluntary  laborers  are 
working  with  selfisli  aims,  T  believe  there  are  others  who 
work  from  higher  and  worthier  motives.  Let  us  depend 
on  these,  and  we  shall  not  be  disappointed.  Not  giving 
pecuniary  eni])loymeut  to  new  converts  will  probably  re- 
tard our  work  for  a  time,  at  least  so  far  as  numl^ers  of  ad- 
herents is  concerned,  but  it  will  promote  the  work  in  the 
end. 

Nature  of  the  Church  and  Its  Development. 

We  may  get  help  in  learning  how  to  deal  with  new  con- 
verts and  stations  by  considering  the  nature  of  the  Church 
and  tlie  law  of  its  development.  Christianity,  whether 
embodied  in  tlic  individual  or  in  a  Church,  is  the  out- 
growth of  a  vital  principle.  In  the  spiritual  as  well  as 
vegetable  kingdom  every  vital  germ  has  its  own  law  of 
life  and  development,  and  it  is  only  by  following  that  law 
that  the  highest  development  can  be  secured.  Christianity 
has  been  introduced  into  the  world  as  a  plant  which  will 
thrive  iie.st  confronting  and  contending  with  all  the  forces 
of  its  environment;  not  as  a  feeble  exotic  which  can  only 
live  wJien  nursed  and  sheltered.  All  unnecessary  nursing 
will  do  it  liariu.  A  pine  may  be  trained  into  a  beautiful 
antl  fantastic  shape  so  as  to  be  an  object  of  interest  and 
curiosity,  and  may  flourish  in  a  way;  but  it  will  not  tower 
heavenward  as  the  king  of  the  forest,  unless  from  first  to 
last  it  is  subjected  to  the  various  and  seemingly  adverse 
influences  of  scorching  sun,  biting  frost  and  raging  tem- 
pest. A  certain  amount  of  care,  and  especially  the  right 
kind,  is  necessary;  too  much  or  injudicious  care  is  injuri- 
ous and  may  be  fatal  to  the  life  which  it  is  intended  to 
promote. 

Test  Necessary  before  Advancement, 

Young  converts  should  be  proved  before  they  are  em- 
ployed and  advanced  to  responsible  public  positions.  It 
is  said  of  deacons  in  the  third  chapter  of  First  Timothy, 
"  Let  these  also  first  be  proved."  The  also  refers  no 
doubt  to  the  previous  qualifications  fequired  in  bishops. 
These  varied  qualifications  include  knowledge,  experience, 
self-culture,  spiritual  growth,  and  discipline,  all  combining 


together  to  form  a  stable  and  reliable  basis  of  character. 
If  deacons  and  bishops  must  first  be  proved,  is  there  not 
the  same  necessity  for  proving  preachers  and  evangelists? 
There  are  laws  in  civilized  countries  requiring  that  ill  test- 
ing an  anchor-chain  or  a  wire  cable  it  shall  be  subjected 
to  a  strain  greater  than  will  be  re(|uired  in  after  use  before 
precious  treasure  and  more  precious  lives  are  trusted  to  it. 
Ordinary  prudence,  aside  from  Scripture  command,  would 
dictate  the  still  greater  necessity  of  testing  the  character 
of  a  man  who  is  to  be  used  in  matters  affecting  the  tenipo- 
ral  and  spiritual  interests,  immediately  and  prospectively, 
of  perhaps  thousands.  In  the  zeal  and  glow  of  first  con- 
verts thev  are  apt,  and  that  unwittingly,  to  deceive  not 
only  us  but  themselves.  By  all  means  let  them  be  proved. 
How  can  this  be  done  without  leaving  them  to  meet  the 
difficulties  and  trials  incident  to  the  condition  in  which 
they  are  found,  and  that  for  a  considerable  length  of  time? 
We  have  further  authoritative  teaching  from  our  Saviour 
himself  on  this  point,  especially  designed  to  guard  against 
the  dangers  resulting  from  the  influence  of  false  teachers. 
"  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  The  outward  ap- 
pearance of  a  tree  may  give  promise  of  its  being  every- 
thing we  could  desire,  but  we  cannot  be  sure  of  its  charac- 
ter until  it  bears  fruit:  for  this  we  may  have  to  wait  for 
years,  and  even  then  find  ourselves  disappointed. 

Necessity  of  Training. 

Young  converts  before  they  are  advanced  to  positions 
of  prominence  and  responsibility,  should  also  be  trained. 

I.  The  processes  of  proving  and  training,  though  quite 
different  and  distinct,  are  carried  on  simultaneously,  and 
largely  by  the  same  means.  This  training  includes  not 
only  study,  but  work,  trial,  and  perhaps  suffering.  It 
should  be  such  as  will  fit  a  man  to  endure  hardness  as  a 
good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  A  man  may  be  carried 
through  a  course  of  theological  training,  freed  from  the 
struggle  of  ordinary  life  bv  having  all  his  wants  provided 
for,  and  yet  get  verv  little  of  this  disciplinary  training  which 
is  so  important.  We  may  think  we  are  helping  a  man  by 
relieving  him  of  burdens  when  we  are  in  fact  injuring  him 


28 


ri.ANTING    OF   MISSrONAKY   CirVKCUES 


!)>•  iiiUrfcriiif,'  witli  this  training;.  IUtc  ap;aiii  llic  element 
of  time  is  a  necessity.  We  are  so  apt  to  l)e  in  haste — to 
spur  ourselves  on  to  prematme  and  frnitless  cTfort  by  the 
consideration  of  how  many  souls  are  perishinp;  while  we 
are  delaying.  After  the  Apostle  Paul  was  chosen  and 
called,  he  was  kejit  waiting  nearly  ten  years  before  he  was 
commanded  to  enter  upon  his  special  life  work.  Who  will 
.say  that  those  ten  years  were  not  as  important  as  any  other 
|)eriod  of  his  life,  or  ti'at  his  after  usefulness  did  not  de- 
])end  on  them?  Timothy  also,  by  years  of  active  and  suc- 
cessful la!)or  at  home,  obtained  a  good  report  of  the 
brethren  in  Lystra  and  Derbc,  after  which  he  accompa- 
nied Paul  as  a  helper:  and  when  many  years  of  proving 
and  training  were  pas.sed,  he  became  l^aul's  co-laborer  and 
succes.sor  in  the  work  of  evangelization  and  the  founding 
of  churches. 

2.  If  it  be  further  asked.  What  then  is  the  best  w-ay  to 
train  men  for  usefulness  in  the  Church?  1  know  of  no  bet- 
ter answer,  at  least  for  the  first  stage  of  preparation,  than  to 
repeat  the  Scripture  injunction,  "  Let  every  man  aiiide  in 
the  calling  wherein  he  was  called."  Nothing  else  can  sujv 
ply  the  place  of  God's  providential  training  in  the  school  of 
ordinary  life  and  practical  exjierience.  If  God,  who  has 
called  a  man  to  the  fellowship  of  His  Church,  has  also 
called  him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  will  manifest  His 
purpose  in  His  own  time  and  way.  Meanwhile,  we  should 
give  these  young  converts  all  the  instruction,  advice,  and 
help  which  Christian  sympathy  and  prudence  suggest. 


now  DEAL    WITH  jXF.Il'   CONVERTS? 


29 


verts  often  left  Timothy  or  Silas  or  others  to  spend  days  t)r 
weeks  in  instructing,  exhorting,  and  comforting  lliem,  and 
also  sent  s[)ccial  messengers  to  individual  churches  to  cor- 
rect abuses  and  furnish  bel])  as  occasif)n  re<|uired;  but  we. 
read  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  of  no  case  in  which  he  left 
any  one  to  slay  with  them  as  their  resident  nnnister.  I 
believe  that  in  failing  to  follow  this  Apostolic  exami)lc  we 
iiave  often  checked  the  devcloi)ment  of  individual  gifts,  and 
self-reliance,  and  aggressive  power  in  our  Churches,  mak- 
ing them  weak,  inefTicient  and  dependent  from  the  first. 

In  the  meantime,  in  view  of  the  great  need  of  evangelists 
to  enter  open  fields  not  yet  reached,  and  of  pastors  and 
teachers  to  care  for  those  are  already  gathered  into  the  fold, 
let  us  heed  the  solenui  injunction  of  our  Lord,  "Pray  ye 
therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  that  He  send  forth  labor- 
ers into  His  harvest." 


Commit  Converts  to  the  Lord. 

We  should  with  faith  and  confidence  commit  young  con- 
\erts  "  to  the  Lord  on  w liom  they  believed."  This  was  the 
course  unhesitatingly  adopted  by  the  Apostle  Paul,  and  I 
know  of  no  reason  why  we  should  not  follow  his  example. 
Om-  Saviour  has  promised  to  lie  al\va\s  with  His  peojilc 
unto  the  end  of  the  world,  and  to  send  the  blessed  Spirit  of 
all  giace  to  abide  with  them  forever.  He  will  give  them  by 
conferring  special  graces  of  His  Spirit,  prophets,  teachers, 
exhorters,  helps,  and  governments,  as  they  are  required. 
Paul  on  his  departure  from  places  where  he  had  made  con- 


Ill 

ORIGIN   AND    GROWTH    OF    STATIONS 
SHAN-TUNG 


IN    CENTRAL 


General  View  of  the  Shan  tung  Work. 

1.  Preaching  tours  formed  a  proiniiient  part  of  mission 
work  from  the  first  occupation  of  Slian-tung  Ijy  I'rotestant 
missionaries  in  the  year  i860.  During  the  years  that 
immediately  followed,  the  whole  of  eastern  Shan-tung  was 
traversed  by  members  of  the  American  Baptist  and  Presby- 
terian Missions.  In  1866,  Rev.  C.  W.  RIatccr  and  Rev.  H. 
Corbctt  made  a  tour  in  central  Shan-tung  for  the  purpose 
chiefly  of  distributing  and  selling  books.  This  was  the  first 
visit  ]iaid  to  Ch'ing-chou  Fu  and  vicinity  by  Protestant 
missionaries.  It  was  afterward  visited  repeatedly  by  Dr. 
Williamson  and  other  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Mission  of  Scotland,  and  Rev.  J.  Maclntyre,  a  member  of 
that  mission,  resided  two  years  in  Wei  Hsien,  the  chief  city 
of  the  adjacent  district  on  the  east.  It  was  also  visited  from 
time  to  time  by  dififercnt  members  of  the  American  Pres- 
byterian mission,  and  in  1874  and  1875  was  included  in  my 
regular  itinerating  tours,  made  twice  a  year. 

Rev.  Timothy  Richard  commenced  regular  work  in 
Ch'ing-chou  Fu  as  a  resident  missionary  in  1875.  There 
were  then  in  that  region  onl}'  two  converts,  and  these  were 
connected  with  Mr.  Corbett. 

Previous  to  the  work  of  Famine  Distribution  in  the 
spring  of  1877,  ^'^^-  Richard  had  gathered  about  him  a  little 
company  of  inquirers,  and  I  had  also  a  few  inquirers  in  the 
district  of  Aii-ch'iu,  about  forty-five  miles  S.  E.  of  Ch'ing- 
chou  Fu. 

2.  In  the  spring  of  1877,  Mr.  Richard  and  Rev.  Alfred 
G.  Jones  gave  all  their  time  and  energies  to  the  work  of 
Famine  Relief.  I  took-  part  in  the  same  work  in  Kao-yai, 
a  market  town  in  the  western  extremity  of  An-ch'iu,  and 

30 


i 


GKOWTir   OF  STATIONS   IN  SllAN-TVNG 


31 


near  the  borders  of  the  two  other  hsicn,  Lin-ch'u,  and 
Ch'ang-lo,  and  continued  it  about  three  months  until  the 
close  of  the  famine,  distributing  aid  to  about  30,000  people, 
from  more  than  300  villages. 

The  famine  relief  presented  us  to  the  i^eoj^lc  in  a  new  and 
favorable  light,  and  gave  a  fresh  impulse  to  our  work  of 
evangelization.  'i"he  establishment  of  stations  may  he  said 
to  have  fairly  begun  after  the  famine,  though  a  sjjirit  of  in- 
quiry had  been  awakened  before.  In  the  spring  of  1879, 
Mr.  Corbett  again  visited  this  region  and  from  this  time 
took  part  in  mission  work  there. 

3.  On  the  main  points  of  mission  policy  we  arc  happily 
nearly  of  one  mind.  All  these  stations  jirovide  their  ow-n 
houses  of  worship;  none  of  them  are  cared  for  by  a  resident 
paid  i)reaclier;  but  in  each  of  them  one  or  more  of  its  own 
members  voluntarily  conducts  services  on  Sunday,  and  at- 
tends to  the  general  spiritual  interests  of  the  little  company 
of  believers  with  whom  he  is  connected,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  the  foreign  missionary  in  cliarge.  In  all  these 
stations  great  prominence  is  given  to  catechetical  teaching, 
and  also  to  affording  special  instruction  to  the  leaders,  with 
a  view  to  their  teaching  others.  These  form  the  distin- 
guishing features  of  our  work,  and  our  main  points  of 
agreement. 

4.  The  Baptist  stations  have  multiplied  chiefly  through 
the  voluntary  labors  of  impaid  Christians,  and  radiate  from 
the  centre  at  Ch'ing-chou  Fu.  Their  staff  of  Chinese 
laborers  now  consists  of  a  native  pastor,  who  is  a  Nanking 
man  baptized  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  four  evangelists 
paid  by  the  mission,  and  two  elders  paid  by  the  native 
Christians. 

My  work  spread  from  the  centre  at  Kao-yai,  almost  en- 
tirely, so  far  as  natives  are  concerned,  through  the  volun- 
tary labors  of  the  Chinese  Christians.  My  staff  of  paid 
laborers  at  present  consists  of  two  native  helpers,  supported 
hitherto  partly  by  the  natives  and  partly  by  myself.  I  have 
from  the  first  used  a  few  others  occasionally. 

Mr.  Corbett  commenced  his  work  with  the  assistance  of 
church  members  from  older  stations.  He  has  used  a  much 
larger  number  of  helpers,  and  his  stations  are  more  discon- 
nected, being  found  in  different  districts    to    which    his 


32  PLANTING    OF   M/SS/ONAKV   CIJUKCHES 

prcaclicrs  and  evangelists  have  been  sent.  His  staff  of  na- 
tive laborers  consists  of  about  twenty-two  paid  helpers,  and 
twenty  teachers.  The  latter  receive  from  him  on  an  aver- 
age about  fifteen  dollars  a  year,  with  what  they  can  get  in 
addition  from  the  natives. 

5.  With  these  general  .statements  respectmg  the  whole 
field,  I  propose  to"  give  a  more  detailed  account  of  my  own 
stations  and  work,  with  which  I  am  naturally  more  in- 
timately acquainted.  I  presume,  however,  that  in  detailing 
my  own  exjierience  I  shall  be  giving  in  the  main  that  also  of 
my  brethren.  When  important  points  of  difference  occur 
they  will  be  spoken  of  m  loco. 

Kelations  of  the  Missionary  Helpers  and  Leaders. 

The  characteristic  feature  of  our  stations  is  that  the  prin- 
cipal care  of  them  is  intrusted,  not  to  paid  preachers  set 
over  them  and  resident  among  them,  but  to  leaders  belong- 
ing to  the  stations.  These  leaders  are  simply  church  mem- 
bers among  church  members,  pursuing  their  daily  calling 
as  before  conversion.  They  form  a  very  important  link  in 
the  chain  of  influences  starting  from  the  foreign  missionary. 
Next  to  the  missionary  is  the  native  helper,  who  is  generally 
a  well-instructed  Christian  of  some  years'  experience.  He  ^ 
is  under  the  control  and  direction  of  the  missionary,  and 
acts  for  him  in  supplementing  his  labors  and  carrying  out 
his  instructions.  Next  to  the  helper  is  the  leader,  through 
whom  principally  the  helper  brings  his  influence  to  bear  on  j 
the  Christians  and  iiK|uircrs  generally. 

Principle  Underlying  Station  Organization. 

I.  It  is  our  aim  that  each  man,  woman,  and  child  shall  be 
both  a  learner  from  some  one  more  advanced,  and  a  teacher 
of  some  one  less  advanced.  Theoretically,  the  missionary 
does  nothing  which  the  helper  can  do  for  him,  the  helper 
does  nothing  which  the  leader  can  do,  and  the  leader  does 
nothing  which  he  can  devolve  upou  those  under  him.  In 
this  way  nnicli  time  is  saved,  the  gifts  of  all  are  utilized  and 
developed,  and  the  station  as  an  organized  whole  grows  in| 
knowledge,  strength,  and  efificiency.    The  leader  constantly  ' 


GROWTir   OF   STATIONS   TN  SHAN-TVNG 


33 


superintends,  directs,  and  examines  those  under  him;  the 
lulper  directs  and  examines  the  leaders  and  their  stations; 
and  the  missionary  in  charge  has  a  general  supervision  and 
control  of  the  whole. 

2.  It  has  been  my  habit  to  visit  the  stations  regularly 
twice  a  year  in  order  to  examine  carefully  into  the  circum- 
stances of  each  one  of  them  and  the  ])rogress  in  knowledge 
and  performance  of  Christian  duties  of  each  Christian  and 
iii(|uirer. 

One  of  my  helpers  has  the  charge  of  nearly  forty  stations, 
located  in  four  dififerent  districts  or  hskn,  which  he  visits 
regularly  once  every  two  months.  The  other  helper  has  the 
charge  of  about  ten  stations  and  devotes  part  of  his  time 
to  evangelistic  work  outside  of  them.  A  few  arc  without 
the  care  of  a  native  helper,  and  are  only  visited  by  the  for- 
eign missionary. 

,^.  The  forty  stations  under  one  helper  are  tlivided  into 
seven  geographical  groups  of  from  four  to  seven  stations 
each.  The  helper  visits  these  groups  in  regular  rotation 
once  every  two  months  by  appiiintment,  spending  about  a 
week  in  each.  On  Sunday  he  liQ.lds  a  general  or  union  ser- 
vice, leaders  and  other  prominent  church  members  being 
present.  The  object  aimed  at  is  to  make  this  union  service 
conducted  by  the  helper  the  model  for  the  leaders  to  pattern 
after  in  their  several  stations  during  the  seven  or  eight 
weeks  when  they  are  by  themselves.  Once  in  two  months 
when  the  helper  is  absent,  each  of  these  groups  has  a  sim- 
ilar union  service  conducted  by  the  leaders,  exercises  and 
persons  in  charge  having  been  appointed  by  the  helper  in 
advance. 

4.  The  form  of  exercise  for  Sundays,  both  morning  and 
aflcrnoon,  consists  of  four  parts.  First,  a  kind  of  informal 
Sniiday-school  in  which  every  person  present  is  expected, 
with  the  superintendence  of  the  leader  and  those  under  him, 
to  prosecute  his  individual  studies,  whether  learning  the 
Cliinesc  character,  committing  to  memory  passages  of 
Scripture,  telling  Scripture  stories,  or  studying  the  cate- 
chism or  Scripture  question  books.  Second,  we  have  the 
more  formal  service  of  w  orsliip,  consisting  of  singing,  read- 
ing of  the  Scriptures  with  a  few  explanations  or  exhorta- 
tions, and  prayer,  the  whole  occiqiying  not  more  than  three 


34 


rr.ANTING    OF  MISSIOMARY  CHURCHES 


GROWTH   OF  STATIONS  IiV  SUAN-TUNG 


35 


(luartors  of  an  liour.  Tliird,  \vc  liavc  the  Scripture  story 
exercise.  Sonic  one  previously  appointed  tells  the  story; 
the  leader  of  the  meeting  then  calls  on  different  persons  one 
after  another  to  reproduce  it  in  consecutive  parts,  and  after- 
ward all  ])resent  take  part  in  drawing  practical  lessons  and 
duties  from  it.  There  is  never  time  for  more  than  one  story, 
and  often  that  one  has  to  he  divided  and  has  two  Sun- 
days given  to  it.  Fourth,  if  there  is  time  a  catechetical 
exercise  follows  in  which  all  unite,  designed  to  bring  out 
more  clearly  the  meaning  of  what  they  have  already  learned 
— as  the  Lord's  Prayer,  the  Ten  Conunandments,  select 
passages  of  Scripture,  some  hook  of  Scripture,  or  some 
special  subject  such  as  the  duty  of  benevolence,  etc.  This 
general  order  of  exercises  is  modified  or  varied  when  the 
circumstances  of  a  station  make  it  advisable  that  it  should 
be. 

5.  Leaders  are  sometimes  formally  selected  by  their  sta- 
tions. More  generally,  however,  they  find  themselves  in 
this  position  as  the  natural  result  of  providential  circum- 
stances. Ill  many  cases  the  leader  is  the  person  who  origi- 
nated the  station  with  which  he  is  connected,  the  other 
members  having  been  brought  into  the  Church  by  his 
instnmientality.  These  members  look  up  to  him  as  their 
natural  head  and  teacher,  and  a  strong  feeling  of  gratitude, 
Christian  sympathy,  and  responsibility  grows  up  spontane- 
ously. In  some  cases  persons  brought  in  afterward  are 
more  gifted  or  literary  tlian  the  original  leader  and  after  a 
time  take  his  place,  or  are  associated  with  him  as  joint  lead- 
ers. In  some  stations  women  are  the  first  converts,  and 
even  after  men  have  joined  them,  exert  a  marked  if  not  the 
chief  influence,  and  take  a  prominent  part  in  teaching,  ex- 
hortation, and  prayer. 

6.  The  chapels,  with  the  chapel  furniture,  are  provided 
by  the  natives  themselves.  As  a  rule  they  are  not  separate 
buildings,  but  form  a  part  of  the  ordinary  Chinese  dwelling 
house.  Often  the  chapel  belongs  to  the  leader.  Sometimes 
it  is  rented  by  the  Christians,  and  in  a  few  places  it  is  a  new 
buikling  specially  erected  for  the  purpose  of  worship. 
When  this  is  the  case,  Christians  from  other  villages  assist 
with  their  contributions,  and  I  have  also  gcnerallv  con- 
tributed, to  the  amount  of  about  one-tenth  of  the  value  of 


the  building.  The  cost  of  these  chapels  ranges  from  thirty 
to  one  hundred  dollars  each.  There  is  as  yet  no  chapel  the 
ownership  of  which  is  vested  in  the  Church  as  a  whole. 
Even  when  a  new  building  is  erected,  it  belongs  to  the  man 
on  whose  ground  it  stands.  The  fact  that  the  chapels  form 
a  part  of  the  1  rdinary  dwelling  houses  of  the  people  ex- 
tm])ts  the  Chri  tians,  1  think,  from  a  good  deal  of  prejudice 
and  persecution  which  is  apt  to  be  excited  by  and  directed 
toward  distinctive  church  buildings. 

Instruction  of  Inc[uirers  and  Church  Members. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  (|uestion  which  can  arise  in 
connection  with  our  country  stations  is.  How  shall  we  most 
effectually  carry  out  the  command  of  our  Saviour,  "  Feed 
my  sheep,"  "  Feed  my  lambs." 

1.  As  has  been  before  indicated,  the  ])ersons  mainly  de- 
pended upon  for  performing  this  work  are  the  leaders.  In 
our  present  circumstances  in  Shan-tung,  no  other  plan  is 
possible.  Where  could  we  obtain  native  preachers  for 
teaching  and  superintending  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  sta- 
tions already  established?  There  are  less  than  a  dozen  can- 
didates for  the  ministry  in  the  whole  field.  We  cannot  yet 
know  how  many  of  these  will  be  acce])table  to  the  jjeople, 
and  the  nundjer  of  stations  is  constantly  increasing.  Were 
it  desirable  to  supply  each  station  with  a  native  jireacher  we 
have  not  the  men,  and  it  would  not  be  reasonable  to  sup- 
])ose  that  we  should  have  at  this  stage  of  our  work.  If  we 
had  the  men,  who  would  su[)|)ort  them?  'The  natives  at 
l)resent  are  too  weak  to  do  it,  and  if  the  foreign  Boards 
were  able  to  assume  this  Ijurdeii,  their  doing  so  would  es- 
tablish a  precedent  which  would  add  very  much  to  the  diffi- 
culties of  making  the  native  churches  independent  and  self- 
supporting  in  the  future. 

2.  In  my  opinion  we  may  go  a  step  farther,  and  say  that 
the  introduction  of  paid  teachers  in  each  station,  even  if  it 
were  possible,  would  not  at  present  be  desirable.  The  lead- 
ers understand  better  than  a  person  from  a  distance  could, 
the  individual  peculiarities  of  the  neighbors,  and  also  the 
tones  and  inflections  of  the  local  dialect,  local  expressions, 
illustrations,  and  habits  of  thought.    They  are  likely  to  be 


3(3 


r I. ANTING    OF   MlSSrONAKV   CHURCHES 


more  interested  in  those  about  them,  most  of  wliom  may  be 
called  their  own  converts,  than  any  one  else  could  be,  and 
are  more  disposed  to  give  them  the  care  and  attention 
necessary  in  instructing  beginners.  In  leaching  they  set  an 
i.'xample  to  others,  a  larger  number  of  teachers  is  thus 
secured  than  could  be  obtained  in  any  other  way,  and  learn- 
ing antl  teaciiing  go  on  togelhcr,  the  one  preparing  for  the 
other,  and  the  teaching  being  an  important  part  of  the 
learning,  perhaps  quite  as  useful  to  the  teacher  as  to  the 
taught.  Though  the  knowledge  of  the  leaders  may  be 
elementary  and  incomplete,  they  are  quite  in  advance  of  the 
other  church  members  and  in(|uirers,  and  what  they  do 
know  is  just  what  the  others  need  first  to  learn.  The 
leaders  are  especially  fitted  to  comnumicate  this  knowledge, 
simjily  because  they  are  not  widely  separated  in  intelligence 
and  sympathy  from  those  who  are  to  be  taught. 

3.  It  must  be  admitted  that  in  this  matter  of  appointing 
leaders  we  meet  in  the  beginning  with  serious  difficulties. 
Sometimes  it  is  almost  impossible  to  find  one.  The  station 
contains  perhaps  not  a  single  person  who  can  read.  Even 
then,  however,  a  modification  of  our  plan  is  found  to  work 
good  results  in  the  end.  If  the  weak  station  is  within  reach 
of  a  stronger,  older  one,  it  can  obtain  help  by  worshi|3ping 
with  and  gaining  instruction  from  it,  or  by  some  mendier 
of  the  older  station  coming  to  spend  Sunday  with  his  less 
advanced  and  less  favored  brethren.  The  helper,  too,  is  ex- 
pected to  give  special  time  and  care  to  these  weak  stations. 
There  are  not  a  few  cases  of  men,  and  also  of  women,  who 
at  first  could  not  read,  who  can  now  read  the  Scriptures, 
teach  and  lead  the  singing,  and  are  not  only  efficient  leaders 
in  their  own  stations  but  exert  a  happy  influence  outside  of 
it. 

4.  From  the  first,  we  emphasize  teaching  rather  than 
preaching.    I  here  use  the  word  "preaching"  in  its  specific 
sense  of  logical  and  more  or  less  elaborate  dissertation.  We 
should  remember  that  continuous  discourse  is  something 
which  is  almost  unknown  in  China.    Even  educated  China- 
men follow  it  with  difficulty.    A  carefully  prepared  sermon 
I  from  a  trained  native  preacher  or  a  foreign  missionary, 
/  such  a  sermon  as  would  be  admirably  suited  to  an  intelli- 
i  gent  educated  Christian  congregation,  is  out  of  place  in  a 


GROWTH   OF  STATIONS  IN  SHAN-TUNG 


37 


new  station.  I'"roni  the  fact  that  it  is  adapted  to  another 
kind  of  congregation,  it  is  by  necessary  consequence  un- 
?uitai)le  here.  An  altenii)t  at  formal  preaching  by  those 
who  have  neither  the  Scri|)tural  knowledge  nor  the  intel- 
lectual and  practical  training  to  fit  tiieni  for  it  is  still  more  to 
l)c  deprecated.  We  who  are  accustomed  from  childiiood  to 
instruction  liy  lectures  and  sermons,  iiaturall\  and  very 
l)ro])erly  introduce  them  in  the  mission  centres  where  we 
are  located;  and  our  personal  teachers  and  pupils  trained 
in  our  schools  become  accustomed  to  them  and  are  profited 
by  them.  In  the  country  stations  a  few  of  the  more  ad- 
vanced Christians  may  be  benefited  by  a  sermon,  but  to  the 
great  body  of  hearers  who  most  need  instruction  it  would 
be  like  listening  to  utterances  in  an  unknown  tongue.  This 
kind  of  iireaching  gives  rise  in  the  Church  from  its  very  in- 
fancy to  a  kind  of  formalism  whicii  is  almost  fatal  to  growth 
and  progress.  The  congregation  rises,  or  sits,  or  kneels  as 
directed,  and  may  maintain  a  reverent  attitude  and  listen, 
or  have  the  appearance  of  listening,  to  what  is  said:  in  a 
word  they  have  a  service  and  go  home  with  their  con- 
sciences satisfied,  but  their  minds  not  enlightened.  Even 
the  Quaker  method  of  sitting  before  God  in  silent  medita- 
tion or  mute  reverence  would  be  preferable  to  having  the 
mind  distracted  by  allusions  to  something  they  have  not 
heard  of,  thoughts  beyond  their  reach  and  processes  of 
reasoning  whicli  they  cannot  follow.  I  am  far  from  saying 
that  no  good  is  accomplished.  Those  who  engage  in  such 
a  service,  as  many  of  them  do,  feeling  that  they  are  offering 
lioniage  and  worship  to  the  true  God  their  Heavenly 
Father,  though  they  may  only  catch  an  occasional  idea 
Irom  a  prayer,  or  an  exhortation,  or  a  sermon,  will  be  bene- 
fited, and  their  worship  will  no  doubt  be  accepted.  Most 
of  the  persons  in  our  congregations  are,  as  regards  their 
mental  development,  in  the  condition  of  children  and  have 
to  be  treated  as  such. 

5.  But  to  return  to  the  methods  of  teaching  which  we 
have  been  led  to  adopt.  All  converts  at  first  receive  more 
or  less  oral  instruction  and  direction  from  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary, or  the  native  helper,  or  the  leader  by  whom  they 
are  brought  into  the  Church.  They  are  required  to  com- 
mit to  memory  and  to  learn  the    meaning    of    a    simple 


38 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY   CHURCHES 


GROWTH   or   STATIONS  IN  SHAN-TUNG 


39 


catccliisni  coiilainiiit;  a  coniiK-iulium  of  Cliristian  doctrine, 
and  also  forms  of  |)i a\cr  and  |)assa.m-s  of  Scripture.  Durint; 
tlie  peiiod  of  probation  they  are  ex|)ccte(l  to  attend  services 
regularly  and  to  perform  tlie  religious  duties  of  professing 
Cln-istians.  The  time  of  probation  has  varied  from  six 
months — or  less  in  exceptional  cases — to  one  or  two  years. 
Our  English  RajHist  brethren  have  recently  increased  it, 
fi.xing  the  minimnm  at  eighteen  months. 

We  have  found  it  necessary,  in  order  to  systematize  and 
unify  our  work-,  to  establish  rules  and  regulations,  which 
have  been  put  up  in  the  chapels  as  placards.  Most  of  these, 
having  been  adopted  by  Mr.  Corbett  and  myself,  are  now 
embodied  in  the  new  edition  of  the  "  Manual  for  Inquirers,'' 
which  is  published  by  the  North  China  Tract  Society.  This 
Manual,  the  Catechism  and  the  Gospels,  arc  the  books 
which  I  place  in  the  hands  of  every  inquirer,  and  little  more 
is  needed  for  3ears  in  the  way  of  te.xt-books  for  those  who 
have  not  previously  learned  to  read. 

The  Manual  contains, — General  Directions  for  Prose- 
cuting Scripture  Studies;  Forms  of  Prayer;  the  Apostles' 
Creed;  and  Select  Passages  of  Scripture — to  be  conmiitted 
to  memory.  Then  follows  a  large  selection  of  Scripture 
stories  and  parables,  with  directions  as  to  how  they  should 
be  recited  and  explained;  only  the  titles  of  these  are  given 
with  references  to  the  place  in  the  P)ible  where  they  are  to 
be  found.  Next  follow:  Rules  for  the  Organization  and 
Direction  of  Stations;  Duties  of  Leaders  and  I^ules  for  their 
Guidance;  a  system  of  forms  for  keeping  Station  Records 
of  attendance  and  studies,  etc.;  Form  of  Church  Covenant; 
Scripture  Lessons  for  Preparing  for  Baptism;  the  same  for 
preparing  for  the  Lord's  Supper;  Order  of  Exercises  for 
Church  Service  and  Directions  for  S])ending  Sunday;  a 
short  Scripture  Catechism — enforcing  the  duty  of  giving  of 
our  substance  for  benevolent  purposes;  and  a  short  essay 
on  the  Duty  of  Every  Christian  to  make  known  the  Gospel 
to  Others.  To  the  whole  is  appended  (|uestions  on  the 
various  parts,  specially  prepared  to  facilitate  the  teaching 
and  examination  of  learners.  A  selection  of  our  most  com- 
mon Hymns  is  also  sometimes  bound  up  with  the  volume. 

6.  Studies  prosecuted  are  divided  into  six  kinds.  All 
church  members  and  inquirers  are  supposed  to  be  carrying 


on  two  or  three  of  these  at  the  same  time,  of  which  a  com- 
plete record  is  kc])t.  The  six  kinds  of  studies  are — learn- 
ing to  read,  memorizing  Scripture,  reading  Scripture  in 
course,  telling  Scripture  stories,  learning  the  meaning  of 
Scripture,  and  reviews  of  former  exercises.  The  books 
iisecl  arc  almost  exclusively  in  Mandarin,  in  the  Chinese 
character. 

7.  W'e  find  Catechisms  and  Scripture  question  books  of 
great  use,  not  only  for  inquirers,  but  for  the  more  ad- 
vanced Christians.  I  give  great  prominence  to  learning  and 
reciting  Scrijilnre  stories  and  jiarables,  and  nothing  has 
been  found  to  produce  more  satisfactory  results.  It  excites 
interest,  develops  thought,  and  furnishes  in  a  simple  form  a 
compendium  of  Bible  history  and  Christian  duty;  while  a 
careful  training  in  relating  Biljle  Stories  and  drawing  prac- 
tical lessons  from  them  is  one  of  the  best  ways  of  develop- 
ing preaching  talent  wherever  it  is  found. 

8.  Scholars  as  well  as  the  illiterate  are  required  to  learn 
the  Manual,  not  only  for  their  own  sakes,  but  in  order  to 
teach  others.  They  soon  familiarize  themselves  with  its 
contents,  and  pass  on  to  the  general  study  of  the  Scriptures 
with  the  help  of  conmicntaries. 

Bible  or  Training  Classes. 

The  stations  of  Mr.  Corbett  and  myself  are  on  an  aver- 
age about  two  hundred  miles  distant  from  our  home  in 
Chefoo.  In  visiting  them  we  have  only  time  for  necessary 
examinations,  together  with  general  instructions  and  di- 
rections. To  secure  thorough  and  methodical  teaching,  no 
plan  has  been  found  practical)!e  but  that  of  a  select  number 
of  the  learners  coming  to  us  in  Chefoo.  These  have  been 
organized  into  classes  which  have  formed  a  kind  of  Normal 
School.  At  first  incpiircrs  came.  Since  stations  have  been 
established,  inquirers  in  the  vicinity  of  them  prepare  for 
baptism  at  home. 

I.  For  several  years  past  our  classes  have  been  com- 
posed of  the  more  advanced  church  members  especially 
selected  and  invited.  They  come  with  the  understanding 
that  in  going  back  to  their  homes  they  are  to  communicate 
what  they  have  learned  to  others.    They  are  in  no  sense  in 


40 


PLANTINC    OF  MISSIONARY   CHURCHES 


GROWTH   OF  STATIONS  m  SHAN-TUNG 


41 


our  eiiiplov  or  pay,  ami  tlirir  jirfvious  occupations  and  re- 
lations continue  as  before.  As  we  are  absent  on  our  tours  in 
the  spriii};  and  autmnn,  tlie  classes  asseniljle  in  C  liefoo 
durint;  the  sunnner  aiul  winter  months  when  we  arc  at 
home,  and  continue  in  session  from  six  weeks  to  two 
months. 

2.  Ill  many  cases  we  have  been  obliged  to  pay  the  travel- 
ling expenses  of  members  of  the  classes  in  returning  home, 
the  money  they  bring  with  them  being  as  a  rule  expended 
before  the  session  is  over.  During  the  last  few  years,  how- 
ever, not  a  few  have  jirovidcd  their  own  travelling  expenses 
for  both  coming  and  returning.  During  their  stay  with  us 
the}'  are  our  guests,  we  furnishing  them  with  food  and 
lodgings.  We  have  found  this  course  necessary  and  dc  not 
think  it  under  the  circumstances  unreasonable.  Most  of 
these  students  are  poor  and  could  not  afTord  to  pay  all  their 
expenses.  Coming  as  they  do  requires  what  is  to  them  a 
considerable  outlay  in  providing  decent  clothing  and  food 
bv  the  way.  The  loss  of  time  in  attending  the  class  is  also  to 
some  a  matter  of  no  small  importance.  Many  incur  heavy 
expenses  in  the  course  of  the  year  in  discharging  the  duties 
of  Christian  hospitalitv  in  their  homes,  where  they  have 
frequent  visits  from  natives  and  foreigners;  so  that  in  enter- 
taining them  while  with  us,  we  are  only  in  part  repaying  in 
kind  what  they  have  already  expended  in  establishing  and 
extending  the  work  in  their  own  neighborhoods. 

3.  The  studies  while  with  us  arc  mainly  Scriptural,  with 
additional  elementary  instruction  in  astronomy,  geography, 
history,  and  general  knowledge.  Here,  as  in  the  stations, 
lessons  are  carried  on  catechetically,  and  what  is  taught  one 
day  is  the  subject  of  examination  the  next.  Much  attention 
is  also  given  to  rehearsing  Scripture  stories.  One  hour  a 
day  is  assigned  to  instruction  in  vocal  music,  which  has 
been  taught  for  many  years,  principally  by  Mrs.  Ncvius, 
who  has  devoted  herself  to  it  with  singular  assiduity  and 
success.  While  the  classes  are  with  us  we  give  nearly  all 
our  time  and  strength  to  them.  Those  who  come  here  with 
an  earnest  pur|)ose  to  learn,  enjoy  the  exercises  and  are 
benefited  b\-  them;  those  who  do  not,  cannot  bear  the 
pressure  and  soon  find  an  excuse  for  going  home. 

My  classes  have  numbered  of  late  about  forty.    So  far 


as  practicalile,  the  same  individuals  come  vear  after  year, 
lliey  have  gone  over  the  ( iuspcls— some  of  tlieni  re- 
peatedly—the Acts  of  the  Apostles,  Koinans  and  several  of 
llie  other  JCpistles,  and  parts  of  the  Old  'festamcnt.  Their 
proficiency  in  ScrijUure  knowledge  will  compare  favorably 
with  that  of  intelligent  adult  classes  in  Sundav-schools  at 
home.  They  could  sustain  a  verv  creditable  examinati(jn 
oil  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  also  on  J^omans,  master- 
ing the  argument  and  being  able  to  rei)ro<luce  it.  Some 
have  written  while  here  so  full  and  clear  an  analysis  of  that 
Epistle  that  their  manuscripts  were  sought  for  and  cojiied 
by  others  who  could  not  come  to  the  class.  The  hymns 
ttliich  they  sing  are  for  the  most  jiart  translations  of  famil- 
iar English  hymns,  in  the  same  meters  as  the  originals,  and 
sung  to  the  same  familiar  tunes.  They  are  taught  losing 
by  note  and  some  of  them  read  music  very  well.  'Jhey  have 
great  difficulty  with  the  half  tones,  their  scale  and  ours 
being  different. 

4-  These  classes  have  almost  fulfilled  tlieir  purpose  and 
will  probably  soon  give  place  to  theological  classes,  those 
who  have  attended  them  having  acquired  such  a  familiarity 
with  the  Scriptures  as  enables  them  now  to  carry  on  their 
studies  at  home,  with  the  help  of  commentaries  and  other 
Christian  books. 

Results  to  Station  Members. 

The  proficiency  in  Christian  knowdedge  of  the  members 
of  these  country  stations  will,  I  think,  bear  favorable  com- 
parison with  that  of  the  converts  cared  for  bv  resident 
preachers. 

I.  The  degree  of  illiteracy  of  the  inhabitants  of  these 
rural  districts  is  perhaps  .somewhat  greater  than  that  of  the 
population  of  China  taken  as  a  wliole.  Not  more  than  one 
out  of  twenty  of  the  men  can  read,  and  not  one  of  a  thou- 
sand of  the  women.  Among  our  Christians,  nearly  all  the 
children  and  most  of  the  adults  of  both  sexes  under  fifty 
years  of  age  learn  to  read.  Some  have  made  remarkable 
progress  in  the  study  of  the  Scriptures.  A  large  proportion 
of  them  have  committed  to  memorv  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount  and  many  other  select  passages  of  the  Bible.  Script- 


42 


ri.ANTINC   OF  Af/SSrONAKV  CHURCHES 


HKonrii  or  staiioxs  in  siiax-tvng 


43 


lire  ideas  and  ])lirases  have  eiUeted  into  tlie  lanp;uage  o( 
cverv-day  life,  reisuns  (if  athaiu'ed  aj^e,  lliougii  them- 
selves unable  to  read,  take  great  pleasure  in  relating 
Scripture  stories  and  |)aral)les,  and  in  teaching  others  less 
instructed  what  they  have  learned. 

2.  The  mental  devcl()])nient  of  the  converts  and  their  en- 
thusiasm in  their  studies  have  in  many  places  attracted  tiic 
attention  and  excited  the  wonder  of  their  heathen  neigh- 
bors. In  one  of  our  stations  there  is  a  literary  man  named 
b'u,  now  over  fifty  years  of  age,  who  has  been  tt.>tally  blind 
for  more  than  twenty  years.  He  has  taught  his  daughter,  a 
girl  of  fifteen,  to  read  the  liible,  she  describing  the  charac- 
ters as  seen,  and  he  telling  her  the  names  and  meanings  of 
them.  She  has  in  this  way  learned  about  two  thousand 
characters.  Her  father  has  memorized  from  her  lips  the 
gospels  of  Matthew  and  John,  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and 
Romans,  and  many  other  jiortions  of  Scripture.  He  and 
other  members  of  his  family  have  taught  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Kuiig,  who  is  also  blind,  to  repeat  nine  chapters  of  Mat- 
thew, and  this  Iilind  woman  has  taught  her  invalid,  bed- 
ridden sister-in-law,  Mrs.  Wang,  to  read  the  Scriptures, 
by  repeating  them  to  her  character  by  character  from 
memory,  while  her  sister-in-law  finds  out  the  words  on  the 
printed  page. 

Manner  in  which  Stations  are  Propagated. 

Many  of  the  stations  in  this  province  originated,  as  be- 
fore stated,  in  the  labors  of  paid  agents  employed  as  evan- 
gelists.   When  new  ones  are  established,  however,  they  are 
usually  organized  under  a  leader  chosen  on  the  plan  de- 
tailed above.    The  English  Baptist  stations  and  my  own 
have  for  the  most  part  been  estalilished  without  the  help  ol  j 
paid  evangelists.    They  radiate  from  self-propagating  cen- 
tres, reminding  one  of  sarmentaceous  plants  which  prop- 
agate themselves  by  runners  striking  root  and  producing  j 
new  plants  in  the  vicinity  of  the  parent  stock,  the  new  plants  j 
in  their  turn  repeating  the  same  process. 

I.  \\nien  a  man  becomes  a  Christian  the  fact  is  known 
through  the  whole  circle  of  his  acquaintances,  male  and 
female,  far  and  wide.    It  is  generally  believed  that  his  mind  \ 


has  lost  its  balance.  He  is  shunned  fur  a  time,  but  before 
long  his  friends  visit  him  either  from  syinjiathy  or  curiosity. 
They  find  him  in  apjiarently  a  normal  condition  and  work- 
ing (juietly  in  his  slui])  or  on  his  farm,  and  aie  curious  to 
know  what  this  new  clejiarture  means.  An  opportiuiity  is 
thus  afforded  of  |)rcsenting  the  claims  of  Cluisliauily  as 
not  the  religion  of  the  foreigner  l)Ut  the  true  religion  for  all 
mankind.  The  visitor  goes  home  and  thinks  about  the 
matter  and  comes  again,  attends  service  on  Sunday,  is  in- 
terested in  the  truth,  makes  a  profession  of  Christianity, 
and  in  process  of  time  his  home  becomes  a  new  propagating 
centre.  Stations  started  in  this  manner  have  the  advantage 
of  a  natural  ccnmcctitin  with  the  jiarent  station,  and  they 
are  nourished  and  sujiporled  I)y  it  until  they  are  strong 
enough  to  have  the  connection  severed  and  live  and  grow 
independently. 

2.  The  Baptist  mission,  having  tried  both  methods  for 
some  years  past  in  the  same  field,  have  found  that  as  a  rule 
the  stations  which  have  originated  as  the  result  of  the 
labors  of  paid  agents  have  been  comparatively  weak  and 
unreliable,  and  some  have  entirely  fallen  away,  while  those 
which  have  been  commenced  on  the  self-propagating 
principle  have  generally  maintained  a  healthy,  vigorous 
growth.  Instead  of  increasing  their  paid  agents  as  the 
Miunber  of  church  members  has  increased,  that  mission  has 
diminished  them  nearly  one-half.  This  self-propagating 
principle  often  results  in  the  establishment  of  stations  one 
or  two  days'  journey  from  the  propagating  centre. 

3.  I  have  often  been  asked,  "  Why  do  you  not  employ 
and  pav  more  native  agents?  "  I  reply  by  another  (|ues- 
tion.  Why  should  I  ?  The  only  men  I  could  employ  are  ex- 
erting what  influence  they  have  for  good  where  they  now 
are.  Mv  paying  them  money  and  transferring  them  from 
one  place  to  another  would  not  make  them  better  men  nor 
increase  their  inlluence.  It  might  have  the  opposite  effect. 
During  the  last  few  years  I  have  in  fact  frec]uently  been  in- 
clined to  attempt  to  enlarge  and  hasten  on  the  work  by  se- 
lecting and  emjiloying  native  agents  from  my  stations,  and 
have  requested  money  appro|)riations  from  our  society  to 
enable  me  to  do  so.  \\'hen  the  time  has  come  for  carrying 
out  this  plan,  however,  1  have  refrained  from  taking  the 


44 


PLANTING    OF   MISSIONARY   CHURCHES 


GROWTH   OF   STATIONS   IN  SHAN-TC'NG 


45 


proposed  stcj),  fcariiif;  that  it  would  do  more  harm  tlian 
good. 

4.  I  am  asked  a,!j;aiii,  "  Do  )'ou  intciul  never  to  cmplnv 
native  paid  ai;ents?"  J\Iy  reply  is,  I  leave  this  question  to 
be  determined  by  the  circumstances  and  in  the  light  of  the 
future.  If  suitable  men  are  found  and  it  is  clear  that  em- 
ploying them  as  paid  agents  would  do  good,  I  should  he 
glad  to  see  them  employed,  and  the  more  of  them  the 
better. 

Classes  to  Which  Our  Church  Members  Belong. 

Most  of  our  stations  are  found  in  country  villages,  and  in 
general  the  Christians  may  be  said  to  belong  to  the  middle 
class.  Although  none  of  them  are  what  wc  should  call  rich, 
not  a  few  are  "well-to-do"  as  compared  to  the  majority  oi 
their  own  people.  Many  are  farmers  and  day  laborers.  We 
have  also  school-teachers,  artisans,  peddlers,  and  innkeep- 
ers. As  a  rule  men  preponderate  in  numbers,  though  some 
churches  are  composed  mostly  of  women.  Sometimes  the 
men  are  first  reached  and  influence  the  women  of  their 
families  to  follow  them,  and  sometimes  the  reverse  is  the 
case.  The  work  among  the  women  has  in  my  stations,  and 
in  the  main  in  all  the  others,  been  carried  on  without  the 
help  of  foreign  ladies.  A  few  country  women  have  come  to 
Chefoo  to  receive  instruction  from  Mrs.  Nevius.  In  most 
places  visits  of  ladies,  except  the  wives  of  missionaries  ac- 
companying their  husbands,  would  hitherto  have  been  hn- 
practicablc  and,  in  the  opinion  of  the  native  Christians,  un- 
desiralile.  The  common  assertion  that  heathen  women 
cannot  be  evangelized  through  the  instrumentalitv  of  men 
is  certainly  not  universally  true  in  China.  Facts  prove  the 
contrary.  In  most  places,  indeed  generally  in  the  interior 
at  a  distance  from  the  established  central  stations,  they  can 
hardly  be  reached  and  evangelized  e.xcept  by  men.  In 
many  of  the  Shan-tung  stations  women  stand  out  prom- 
inently as  examples  of  zeal  and  proficiency  in  Christian 
knowledge. 


Persecution. 

1.  0(i(iositioii  and  [lersecution  have  marked  the  course 
of  our  work  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  every  district. 
The  authority  of  tlie  family  or  elan  is  often  invoked  to 
overrule  the  imlividual  in  his  determination  to  eiUer  the 
new  religion.  \'illage  elders  and  trustees  of  temiiles  unite 
in  efTorts  to  exact  from  Christians  contributions  for  theatres 
and  the  repairs  of  temples.  When  native  Christians  persist 
ill  asserting  their  i)urpose  to  follow  their  own  convictions 
of  dutv  in  oiipiisition  to  those  who  think  they  have  both 
the  right  and  the  power  to  control  them,  ojien  outbreaks 
ensue,  resulting  in  brutal  assaults,  housel)urning  and  in 
some  cases  driving  Christians  from  their  homes.  Native 
Christians  are  sometimes  arraigned  before  the  local  magis- 
trates on  fictitious  charges;  and  when  it  is  found,  as  at 
tinies  is  the  case,  that  the  local  magistrate  is  only  loo  glad 
to  join  in  the  persecution,  false  accusations  become  more 
mimerous,  and  old  law-suits  in  which  the  Christians  were 
parties  are  revived.  In  these  litigations  the  persecutors 
have  every  advantage.  There  are  among  them  those  fannl- 
iar  with  all  the  arts  and  intricacies  of  Chinese  law-suits,  and 
those  who  have  friends  in  the  ya-iucn  and  money  for  brib- 
ery when  it  is  required.  Under  these  circumstances  the 
Christians  have  small  hope  of  justice.  Charges  are  brought 
against  them  with  such  a  show  of  plausibility,  and  such  an 
array  of  evidence,  that  officers  who  are  disposed  to  act 
justly,  as  I  believe  some  of  them  are,  may  almost  be  ex- 
cused for  regarding  Christians  as  guilty  culprits  and  treat- 
ing them  accordingly. 

2.  In  cases  of  great  injustice  and  abuse,  missionaries 
have  taken  up  the  complaints  of  the  native  Christians,  ap- 
pealed to  their  consuls,  and  in  some  instances  obtained 
partial  redress.  It  must  be  acknowledged,  however,  that 
we  have  not  invariably  elicited  correct  representations  of 
these  cases;  and  also  that,  when  through  the  influence  of 
the  foreign  teachers  the  tide  of  fortune  has  turned  in  favor 
of  the  Christians,  they  have  not  always  been  free  from  a 
spirit  of  revenge  and  retaliation,  r.ittcr  and  imjust  as  the 
treatment  has  been  which  our  Christians  have  often  re- 
ceived, it  is  a  growing  opinion  here  that  the  best  weapons 


46 


ri.AiV77Xa    OF   A//SS/O.V,lh-Y   (■/fURC//F.S 


with  wliicli  to  imet  this  (i]i])ositioii  arc  Christian  ])aticnce 
niid  fdrilicaraiicc,  and  that  the  surest  victory  and  the  one 
wliicii  will  lie  followed  hy  tlie  l)est  results  is  that  of  "  ovcr- 
coniiiic;  evil  with  good.  "  We  are  less  and  less  disposed  to 
appeal  to  the  civil  power  on  behalf  of  our  people,  except  in 
extreme  cases. 

Sabbath  Observance. 

1.  The  difTiculty  of  enforcins^  strict  rules  of  .'-iahhatli  ob- 
servance is  not  less  here  than  in  other  parts  of  China.  Our 
own  mission  has  taken  strongs  jjround  on  this  subject.  We 
regard  the  Sabbath,  not  as  a  Jewish  institution,  but  an  in- 
stitution for  man  in  all  ages  wherever  found.  We  believe 
it  lias  the  same  authority  as  the  other  commandments  of 
the  decalogue;  that  the  obligation  to  keep  one  day  holy 
tmto  the  Lord  antedates  tiie  decalogue,  as  the  duties  en- 
joined in  the  other  commandments  do;  and  that  the  deca- 
logue is  but  the  divine  reanmuiciation  and  publication  of 
universal  and  eternal  law.  As  such  we  hold  that  it  can 
never  be  abrogated,  tliat  its  observance  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  the  prosperity  of  the  Church,  and  an  index  of 
its  spiritual  state. 

2.  In  determining  how  Stmday  shall  be  observed,  or  in 
other  words,  in  the  interpretation  of  the  fourth  conmiand- 
mcnt,  we  have  an  infallil)le  guide  in  the  teachings  of  our 
Saviour.  He  has  declared  that  it  is  lawful  and  right  (l)  to 
do  good  on  the  Sabbath  day;  (2)  to  perform  acts  of  neces- 
sity; (,^)  of  mercy  and  kindness;  (4)  to  perform  work  con- 
r.ected  with  or  necessary  to  the  worship  and  service  of  God; 
(5)  that,  as  the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man  and  not  man  for 
the  Sabbath,  this  commandment  should  be  so  construed  as 
to  subserve  and  not  interfere  with  man's  best  and  highest 
good.  God's  revelation  of  truth  and  duty  is  one  consistent 
whole,  each  part  connected  with  and  conditioned  by  the 
others.  Cases  may  occur  in  which  one  command  overrules 
and  supersedes  another.  The  paramount  authority  and 
command  of  God  may  make  it  a  man's  duty  under  some 
circumstances  to  disobey  a  parent;  the  civil  law  or  the  in- 
herent right  to  preserve  one's  own  life  against  lawless  vio- 
lence, may  make  it  right  to  destroy  human  life;  and  the 
necessities  of  war  or  famine  may  justify  a  man  in  taking 


CKOWril    Ol'    S-/-A7-/OXS    IN  SUAN-TIINU 


47 


and  using  what  does  not  belong  to  him.  So  circumstances 
may  justify  the  |)erformance  of  (jrdinary  labor  on  the  Sab- 
bath, in  which  case  such  lal)or  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  ig- 
noring or  breaking  the  fourth  connnandment,  but  as  obey- 
ing God's  will  in  the  exceptional  as  well  as  the  usual 
observance  of  the  day.  Nothing  should  be  done  which  the 
above  principles  laid  down  by  our  Saviour  do  not  warrant. 

3.  It  is  evident  that  the  natural  outcome  of  these  princi- 
ples must  be  a  great  diversity  of  practice,  growing  out  of 
varied  situations  and  conditions.  Jt  is  evident  also  that  the 
application  of  these  principles  must  be  left  largely  to  each 
individual  Christian.  1  believe  this  may  safely  be  done  so 
long  as  the  divine  obligation  of  the  command  is  acknowl- 
edged. On  the  graduated  scale,  representing  on  one  hand 
actions  plainly  inadmissible,  and  on  the  other,  actions  as 
manifestly  admissible,  there  is  a  wide  medium  of  debatable 
ground  where  room  must  be  left  for  the  exercise  of  indi- 
vidual liberty  and  Christian  charitv. 

To  make  the  matter  more  practical.  On  the  side  of  un- 
justifiable Sunday  labor  we  may  designate  that  of  the 
farmer  who  tills  his  own  land  and  is,  or  ought  to  be,  the 
master  of  his  own  establishment;  or  the  artisan  who  works 
in  his  own  shop  with  or  without  employees.  In  such  cases 
as  these  we  insist  on  a  strict  observance  of  the  Sabbath  and 
make  a  breach  of  this  observance  a  matter  of  censure  and 
discipline. 

On  the  side  of  justifiable  work  we  designate  enforced 
labor  performed  on  Sunday  by  slaves,  minors,  daughters- 
in-law,  etc. 

In  our  stations  the  duty  of  Sabbath  observance  is  gen- 
erally acknowledged,  and  I  think  I  may  say  that  there  is 
a  manifest  hnprovement  in  public  sentiment  on  this  sub- 
ject. In  my  own  field  there  is  a  considerable  proportion  of 
the  stations  in  which  the  observance  of  the  day  is  gratifying 
and  connnendable;  but  in  a  majority  of  these'stations  strict 
observance  is  the  exception,  and  a  loose  and  partial  one  the 
rule.  We  hope  to  see  a  gradual  advancement  in  this  matter 
as  the  result,  with  God's  grace  and  help,  of  careful  Bible 
teaching  and  the  examples  of  our  more  advanced  and  con- 
scientious Christians. 

4.  It  may  be  objected  that  insisting  on  the  divine  obli- 


48 


r I. ANTING    OF   M/SSniXAKV   CI/IKC/IKS 


■I*  r 


gation  of  Sahhatli  observance,  and  al  tlie  same  time  |)ro- 
vidiiig  for  tlie  relaxing  or  annniling  of  these  obligations, 
practically  leads  to  about  the  sanie  result  as  leaving  the 
whole  matter  to  be  determined  by  individual  choice  or  ex- 
pediency. It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  this 
modification  or  relaxation  is  not  one  of  our  suggestion,  but 
is  specifically  laid  down  by  the  Lord  of  the  Saljbath  Him- 
self. The  practice  here  advocated  provides,  too,  for  the 
gradual  and  finally  complete  introduction  of  the  Sabbath 
into  heathen  lands  on  a  basis  of  divine  authority;  while 
the  theory  that  the  Sabbath  was  only  a  Jewish  institution 
makes  the  observance  of  it  a  matter  of  choice  rather  than 
duty,  and  condones  for  its  neglect  or  abuse,  which  gradu- 
ally becomes  a  habit  interwoven  with  social  and  national 
customs.  Under  one  theory,  so  far  as  this  cjuestion  is  con- 
cerned, the  Church  is  like  a  ship  at  turn  of  title  drifting  in 
different  directions  in  obedience  to  the  temporary  inllu- 
ences  of  wind  and  tide,  but  still  lujlding  fast  to  her  anchor 
and  destined  to  settle  soon  in  a  fixed  position;  under  the 
other  theory  she  is  without  anchor  anil  drifting  hopelessly. 

Discipline. 

1.  We  regard  the  administration  of  discipline  as  indis- 
pensable to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  our  work,  and  at- 
tention to  it  claims  a  large  portion  of  our  time  and 
thoughts.  \\'ith  the  use  of  our  Record  Book,  the  assistance 
of  our  leaders  and  helpers  and  information  obtained  from 
other  sources,  the  difficulty  in  gaining  a  knowledge  of  the 
real  state  of  things  is  not  so  great  as  might  at  first  be  sup- 
posed. 

2.  The  proportion  of  those  who  have  been  exeomniuni- 
cated  on  account  of  scandalous  offences  is  comparatively 
small.  The  great  majority  of  them,  perhaps  as  many  as 
eighty  per  cent.,  are  cases  of  gradual  and  at  last  complete 
neglect  of  Christian  duties,  commencing  with  giving  up 
iiible  study,  disregard  of  the  Sabbath  and  neglect  of  pub- 
lic worship.  It  now  ap()ears  that  most  of  these  persons 
entered  the  Church  witliout  a  clear  apprehension  of  what 
Christianity,  theoretical  and  practicaf,  is.  Their  motives 
seem  to  have  been  to  obtain  a  place  as  a  preacher  or  ser- 


CKOn  rif    Ol-    STATIONS    IN  SIIAN-TUNG 


49 


vant,  or  pecuniary  aid  in  other  wa\s,  or  to  get  help  in 
law-suits,  actual  or  anticipated — all  these  motives  being 
connected  no  doubt  with  the  sincere  conviction  that  Chris- 
tianity is  true  and  a  desire  to  share  in  the  spiritual  bless- 
ings which  it  confers.  They  were  also  ignorant  of  the  diffi- 
culties and  trials  connecteil  with  a  Christian  |)rofession, 
and  so  when  they  met  with  opposition  and  iiersecution 
they  fell  away. 

3.  We  administer  disci])line  as  directed  by  the  .Scrijitures 
and  generally  practiced  by  Christian  churches  at  home: 
first,  by  exhortation  and  admonition,  followed  if  necessary 
by  a  formal  trial  and  suspension ;  and  after  a  period  of  sus- 
pension varying  from  a  few  months  to  one  or  two  years,  in 
failure  of  reformation,  by  excommunication. 

4.  The  whole  number  of  adult  baptisms  in  my  own  field 
during  the  last  seven  years  has  been  about  one  thousand. 
The  projiortion  of  excommunicated  persons  is  about  twen- 
ty per  cent,  of  the  whole,  and  more  than  half  of  them  have 
been  from  the  one  hskn,  Shiu-kuang,  where  there  were  for 
a  time  numerous  accessions  under  a  good  deal  of  excite- 
ment. In  the  other  four  hskn,  the  proportion  of  excommu- 
nicated persons  as  compared  to  the  whole  number  of  con- 
verts is  about  ten  per  cent.  While  there  has  been  this  fall- 
ing away  in  individuals,  there  has  been  a  comparatively 
slight  loss  of  stations,  nearly  all  having  left  in  them  a  few 
earnest  men;  so  that  the  ])laces  where  there  have  been  most 
excommunications  are  really  stronger  and  more  promising 
than  when  they  had  more  names  on  the  roll.  No  station 
has  as  yet  been  entiiely  given  up.  It  is  feared,  however, 
that  we  shall  soon  have  to  give  up  four,  three  of  them  in 
the  district  of  .Shiu-kuang. 

5.  Cases  of  discipline  have  diminished  considcrablv  dur- 
ing the  last  year,  and  we  hope  the  number  may  be  much 
curtailed  in  the  future  by  avoiding  some  of  the  causes  which 
iiave  led  to  them.  \'er\  few  excommunicated  persons  have 
returned  to  us.  Very  few  have  become  enemies  and  open 
opposers.  Most  are  indifferent,  some  soured  and  disap- 
pointed. Many  of  them  retain  strong  sympathy  with  the 
Cliurcli  and  continue  to  attend  services.  In  every  case,  so 
far  as  I  know,  the  administration  of  discipline  has  been  sus- 
tained by  public  opinion  in  the  Church  and  outside  of  it, 


so 


rLANriNC,  or  M/ss/ox.ih'v  curia  irr.s 


and  the  effect  of  discipline  has  been  decidedly  good.  I  be- 
lieve the  neglect  of  it  would  soon  restilt  in  checking  the 
growth  and  perhaps  extinguishing  the  life  of  the  Church. 

6.  It  has  been  objected  to  tiiis  plan  of  conducting  sta- 
tions that  with  the  niissionar)-  living  so  far  away  from 
them,  and  the  new  converts  left  so  much  to  themselves,  it  is 
impossible  for  him  to  know  what  is  occurring,  and  the  dif- 
ficulties of  finding  out  and  correcting  abuses  and  irregu- 
larities must  be  greatly  increased.  There  is  weight  in  this 
objection;  but,  in  my  opinion,  the  flifificulties  are  much  less 
than  might  be  imagineil  and  the  advantages  of  the  stations 
being  left  to  themselves  far  outweigh  the  disadvantages. 
The  lielpcr  is  able  to  find  out  (piite  as  much  about  the  sta- 
tions as  the  missionary  could  if  he  were  constantly  living 
among  them.  While  there  may  be  motives  at  work  in- 
fluencing church  members  to  conceal  important  facts  from 
the  missionary  and  also  from  tlie  helper,  there  are  other 
motives  which  work  strongly  in  the  opposite  direction.  Ir- 
regularities or  improprieties  on  the  part  of  an  individual  or 
a  party  in  the  Church  are  very  likely  to  be  reported  on  the 
first  opportunity  by  another  individual  or  party.  Should  a 
whole  station  l)e  interested  in  concealing  something  which 
ought  to  be  l<nown,  some  adjoining  station,  or  people  out- 
side the  Church,  will  probably  be  foiuid  ready  to  give  the 
requisite  information.  Our  main  dependence,  however,  is 
on  the  honesty  and  integrity  of  the  leaders  and  the  church 
members,  especially  on  tlie  fact  that  the  station  is  theirs 
and  not  the  missionary's,  and  that  they,  rather  than  lie,  are 
the  ones  who  arc  chiefly  interested  in  correcting  abuses. 
The  fact  that  they  do  not  depend  upon  the  missionary  for 
pecuniary  support,  which  eliminates  the  strongest  motive 
for  concealment  or  deception,  is  a  matter  of  much  greater 
importance  than  the  proximity  or  distance  of  the  mission- 
ary. Many  facts  will  prove  that  where  there  is  a  motive  to 
deceive,  the  daily  presence  and  supervision  of  the  mission- 
ary is  no  sure  guarantee  against  concealment  and  decep- 
tion being  carried  on  during  a  long  course  of  years. 


GKOH'Tll    Ol-    STATIONS  IN  SHAN-TUNG 


Contributions, 


51 


In  contributions  we  have  not  accomplished  what  we 
ought.  This  matter  has  been  constantlv  kept  before  the 
Christians,  and  special  books  and  placards  treating  of  this 
subject  have  been  prepared  fur  IJicm  and  studied  by  them. 
\  good  beginning  has  been  made  in  ways  which  i't  is  not 
easy  to  tabulate  and  publish  in  public  reports.  Chapels 
have  been  built  and  furnished;  a  good  deal  has  been  done 
especially  by  those  who  are  connected  with  chaiiels  in  en- 
tertaining and  instructing  iiK|uirers;  voluntary  labor  in 
evangelizing  the  "  regions  beyond  "  has  been  carried  on  to 
a  considerable  extent;  and  poor  church  members  have 
been  assisted.  In  addition  to  this,  most  of  the  stations  have 
Riven  a  contribution  through  the  foreign  missionary  once 
or  twice  a  year,  varying  in  amount  from  one  to  three  or 
four  dollars  or  more,  which  has  been  applied  hitherto  to 
paying  the  expenses  of  the  hel]iers.  Om  Christians  need 
further  instruction  as  to  the  duty  of  giving  and  more  pres- 
sure to  induce  them  to  give,  and  also  to  have  ])laced  before 
them  objects  suited  to  draw  out  their  svmpathies.  The 
example  of  other  missions  has  been  very  helpful  to  us. 

Schools. 

The  opinions  and  policy  of  the  missionaries  here  as  to 
schools  vary  considerably,  and  the  course  to  be  taken  in 
the  future  is  not  yet  fixed.  There  are  but  few  places  where 
the  native  Christians  are  strong  enough  in  numbers  and 
wealth  to  support  schools  of  their  own.  One  member  of 
our  mission  is  trying  the  experiment  of  helping  countrv 
(lay  schools,  paying  about  one  dollar  a  year  for  each  i)upii. 
This  help  is  furnished  on  the  conditions  that  the  schools 
have  Christian  teachers,  that  the  [)upils  learn  Christian 
books,  and  are  subject  to  the  examination  and  control  of 
the  foreign  missionary  and  his  helper.  A  similar  plan  has 
been  adopted  to  some  extent  by  the  English  Baptist  mis- 
sionaries. 

For  myself  I  have  not  been  successful  with  this  plan.  I 
am  helping  three  day  schools  this  year  to  the  amount  of 
from  five  to  eight  dollars  to  each  school.    These  are  started 


52 


I'LANTING    or  MlSSlOiVAKY  CHURCHES 


n 


1  +  ^ 


by  the  natives  who  api)lie(l  to  me  for  assistance.  In  eacli 
of  tiicni,  I  am  (lis])osi(l  lo  tliink  tlial  a  prominent,  if  not  tlu' 
chief  motive,  is  to  provide  a  support  for  tlie  teacher,  who 
otherwise  would  have  no  source  of  income. 

So  far  no  i)lan  for  sciiools  has  seemed  to  me  so  practi- 
cable and  satisfactor}'  in  its  results  as  that  of  making  sta- 
tions themselves  a  kind  of  training  school  for  all  their  mem- 
bers. A  great  deal  may  be  accomplished  by  systematic 
teaching  on  Sunday  and  also  employing  leisure  months  ami 
days  in  study. 

The  plan  of  a  free  day  school  during  the  winter  months, 
when  the  farmers  have  little  to  do,  suggested  and  adopted 
last  winter  in  one  of  the  stations,  has  interested  me  greatly 
and  I  should  like  very  much  to  see  it  or  something  similar 
generally  adojited. 

Men  Employed  and  Incidental  Expenses. 

1.  From  the  more  than  eight  hundred  churcli  members 
in  my  stations,  I  have  at  present  in  my  own  employ  two 
men,  viz.,  one  helper,  who  receives  five  thousand  ca.';li 
($4.67)  per  month,  and  one  servant.  The  other  helper  is 
from  one  of  the  older  stations.  Besides  these,  there  are 
the  following  men  from  my  stations  in  the  employ  of  other 
missionaries,  viz.,  two  teachers,  three  helpers,  and  six  ser- 
vants, making  the  whole  number  employed  and  paid  by  for- 
eigners thirteen. 

2.  Besides  these,  I  have  for  several  years  supported  from 
private  funds  a  young  man  from  a  wealthy  family  who  has 
been  driven  from  his  home  by  violent  and  continued  per- 
secution. His  expenses  are  from  fifty  to  seventy  dollars  a 
year.  I-fe  is  now  studying  medicine  and  doing  a  good  med- 
ical and  evangelistic  work  in  and  about  his  home.  lie  will, 
I  hoi)e,  soon  be  independent  and  require  no  further  help. 

3.  The  amount  expended  for  providing  food  for  the  Bi- 
ble classes  at  Chefoo  composed  of  leaders  from  the  stations 
has  been  about  one  hundred  dollars  a  year.  By  tabulating 
the  above  and  other  items  we  have  the  following  as  the  en- 
tire expense  for  my  stations  for  the  past  year,  1885,  aside 
from  the  salary  and  itinerating  expenses  of  the  foreign  niis- 
sionarv: 


(;A-Olt  77/    OF  STATIOA'S  IN  SIIAN-TUNG  53 

Salary  of  two  helpers. $1 12.TO 

Aid  to  one  medical  stu.lcnl 6;  00 

^:''''^  .'-"''■'^ses :     ^^^ 

Lonlnbnlions  to  three  day  schools 18.00 

Contrii)u(ions  towards  building  chapels.  14  60 

Occasional  preaching  tours jc.go 

Helj)  in  cases  of  persecution \^.\% 

Total    $298.58 

About  one-half  of  this  sum  total  is  supplied  by  the  mis- 
sion. The  above  will  jjresent  a  fair  average  of  expenses  and 
the  number  of  men  employed  from  vear  to  year.  It  does 
not  mclude  private  assistance  given  to  the  poor,  amounting 
during  the  past  year  to  about  fortv  dollars.  In  1884  I  had 
an  additional  helper,  and  in  1883  two  additional  ones— 
both  from  the  college  at  Teng-chou  Fu.  ]  expect  to  have 
for  the  coming  year,  1886,  but  one  paid  helper. 

Summary  and  Forecast. 

The  foregoing  statements  will  give,  1  think,  a  correct 
general  idea  of  the  character  and  condition  of  these  stations 
at  present.  They  are  marked  bv  the  same  weaknesses  and 
defects  which  are  found  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  in 
churches  everywhere,  and  which  we  should  expect^o  find 
in  converts  just  emerging  from  the  darkness  of  heathenism 
who  are  still  surrounded  bv  heathen  influences  and  only 
imperfectly  emancipated  from  old  heathen  habits  In 
every  respect  they  fall  short  of  the  Christian  ideal  and  the 
ideal  of  the  plan  on  which  we  are  working.  I  am  glad  to 
be  able  to  say,  however,  that  the  evidences  of  vitalitv  and 
growth  are  more  and  more  ai)parent  cverv  vear;  that  in- 
dividual Christians  are  advancing  in  knowledge  and  spirit- 
uality; that  the  stations  are  in  the  main  giving  evidence  of 
stabdity  and  promise  of  pcrmanencv;  and  that  they  are 
gaming  a  good  report  from  those  whiD  are  without. 

What  the  future  of  these  stations  will  be  we  cannot  know. 
In  view  of  the  dangers  to  which  thev  are  exposed  and  the 
disappointing  resuhs  which  have  so  often  marked  the  his- 


54 


PLANTING   OF  MISSIOXAKY  CIU'RCIIES 


tory  of  missionary  enterprises  iii  Cliina,  we  can  only  "  re- 
joice witli  Irenthlint;."  (  Hir  Iio|h'  is  in  llic  continned  pres- 
ence and  i)icssin^  of  our  Divine  Master.  VVc  rejoice  that 
this  vine  of  God's  (ilanting  is  strikinic  its  roots  into  tiie  na- 
tive soil,  and  we  heheve  that  witli  (lod's  blessing  it  will  con- 
tinue to  grow  and  spread  wide  its  branches  and  bring  forth 
fruit  to  His  glory. 


ORGANIZATION 


IV 

OF    STATIONS, 
I'ROSl'l':CTlVE 


PRESENT    AND 


Varying  Views  Concerning  Church  Organization. 

1.  The  (jucstion,  What  is  the  liest  mode  of  organization 
for  native  converts  in  new  stations?  scarcely  enters  the 
mind  on  one's  first  arrival  in  China.  Most  of  us  are  satis- 
fied that  the  mode  adopted  by  that  branch  of  the  Church 
with  which  we  are  severally  coimccted  is  the  best ;  that  it  is, 
if  not  the  one  specially  enjoined  by  .Scrijitm'e  authority,  at 
least  the  one  most  in  harmony  with  Scripture  teachings, 
and  fully  sanctioned  by  practical  experience.  Moreover, 
it  is  the  one  with  the  working  of  which  we  are  individually 
most  familiar  and  into  the  practice  of  which  we  naturally 
and  unquestioningly  fall.  If  we  are  unable  to  adopt  it  at 
once,  it  is  a  matter  of  regret  and  we  are  anxious  to  put  it 
into  o)3eration  as  soon  as  possible. 

2.  When  the  missionary,  associated  with  co-laborers  of 
(lifTerent  nationalities  and  church  connections,  looks  at  the 
question  of  organization  from  the  stand-point  of  mission 
work  on  heathen  ground,  it  assumes  new  aspects,  and  a  few 
years  experience  and  observation  will  probably  efTect  a 
considerable  modification  of  views.  He  soon  finds  tiiat 
missionaries  of  different  tlenominations  ignore  in  a  meas- 
ure for  the  time  being  their  several  systems  and,  in  the  first 
stage  of  their  work,  agree  in  the  main  in  a  new  plan  which 
all  have  adopted  under  the  force  of  circumstances.  He 
sees  com()anies  of  Christians  placed  under  the  care  of  un- 
official religious  teachers,  and  native  evangelists  preaching 
in  unevangelized  districts,  while  there  are  as  yet  no  or- 
ganized churches,  and  perhaps  no  bishops,  elders,  or  dea- 
cons, nor  even  candidates  for  the  ministry; — only  mission- 
aries, and  native  preachers  having  the  names  of  "  helpers," 

55 


^mmmm 


56 


ri.Aj\'r/xa  of  missio.varv  c//l'kcjies 


"  catechists,"  "  native  assistants,"  "  colporteurs,"  "  Bible 
agents,"  or  "  cvanpjelists."  In  places  where  stations  have 
reached  a  more  advanced  stage  of  development,  requiring 
some  sort  of  organization,  missionaries  are  sometimes  led 
bv  personal  pmclivities  and  local  circumstances  to  the 
adoption  of  metiiods  (|uite  aside  from  their  previous  ante- 
cedents. Not  long  since  in  a  conference  at  Chefoo  of  mis- 
sionaries from  different  parts  of  China,  it  was  discovered 
tliat  an  Indejicndent  was  carrying  on  his  work  on  Presby- 
terian principles,  "  because  they  suited  best  in  his  field;  " 
in  the  methods  of  another  Independent  from  a  difTerent 
province  the  jirelatical  element  predominated,  while  a  Pres- 
Ijvterian  was  found  working  on  a  plan  which  had  very  little 
of  Presl^yteriauism  in  it,  but  a  singular  blending  of 
Methodism,  Independency,  and  Prelacy. 

3.  What  lessons  are  we  to  learn  from  these  facts?  Is  it 
not  this,  that  practical  exi)erience  seems  to  point  to  the  con- 
clusion that  present  forms  of  church  organization  in  the 
West  are  not  to  be,  at  least  without  some  modification,  our 
guides  in  the  founding  of  infant  churches  in  a  heathen  land? 
If  it  be  asked,  W  hat  then  is  to  be  our  guide?  I  answer.  The 
teachings  of  the  New  Testament.  If  it  be  further  asked, 
Are  we  to  infer,  then.  th;it  all  the  forms  of  church  organiza- 
tion in  the  \\'est  arc  at  variance  w  ith  !-lcri|iture  teaching?  I 
answer,  By  no  means.  A  plan  of  organization  in  England 
or  America  may  be  very  different  from  one  adopted  in 
China,  and  both  though  different  may  be  equally  Scriptu- 
ral; and  one  of  tlicni  may  be  suited  to  the  home  church 
and  one  to  a  mission  station,  just  because  they  are  different. 

The  all-im])ortant  (piestion  is.  What  do  the  Scriptures 
teach  respecting  church  organization?  Do  they  lay  down 
a  system  with  fixed  and  un\arying  rules  and  usages,  to  be 
observed  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances?  or  a 
system  based  on  general  principles,  purposely  flexible  and 
readily  adapting  itself,  under  the  guidance  of  God's  Spirit 
and  providence  and  conuiion  sense,  to  all  the  conditions  in 
which  the  Church  can  l)e  placed?  I  believe  the  latter  is  the 
true  supposition.  The  same  conclusion  might  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that,  while  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  which 
are  obviouslv  and  by  connnon  consent  regarded  as  funda- 
mental and  essential,  arc  taught  in  the  Scriptures  specifi- 


S/-AT/OXS  PRESF.NT  AiYP   VKOSriiCTllU 


57 


cally,  elaborately  and  repeatedly,  there  is  no  portion  of 
.Scripture  where  a  comi)lete  and  detailed  system  of  church 
government  is  presented  or  referred  to.  It  may  be  said, 
and  very  truly,  that  God  might  reveal  to  us  a  complete  and 
authoritative  system  of  church  government,  infercntially 
as  well  as  explicitly.  Had  he  done  so,  however,  would 
there  not  have  been  a  general  agreement  with  regard  to 
these  teachings  as  there  is  with  regard  to  Christian  doc- 
trine? 

1  believe  that  the  distinctive  principles  which  underlie 
(he  different  systems  of  church  organization  j^revailing  in 
the  \V'est  are  all  Scriptural.  The  jirinciple  of  the  authcjrity 
and  responsibility  of  individual  believers  in  matters  relating 
to  the  conduct  of  the  Church  is  a  very  prominent  part  rjf  the 
teaching  of  the  New  Testament.  The  imp(jrtance  of  ap- 
j)ointing  elders,  or  Ijishops,  as  authoritative  leaders  and 
riders  in  the  Church  is  taught  no  less  clearly.  The  Script- 
ural sanction  for  the  appointment,  at  least  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  Church,  of  superintendents  or  overseers,  hav- 
ing the  charge  and  care  of  many  associated  churches  with 
their  elders  and  deacons,  is  no  less  evident.  The  degree  of 
prominence  or  ])roportionate  use  of  these  different  prin 
ciples  or  elements  of  church  organization  mav  varv  in- 
detuiilely  according  to  the  condition  and  rei|uiremenls  of 
the  church.  This  theory  ]irovides  for  constant  change  and 
modification  suited  to  the  stage  of  the  church's  develop- 
ment, the  character  of  its  members  and  its  conditions  and 
surroundings. 

If  I  mistake  not,  diversity  and  gradual  progression  in  the 
application  of  these  principles  is  distinctly  traceable  in  the 
New  Testament.  Tlie  Gospels  and  the  earlier  part  of  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles  indicate  a  very  simple  form  of  organi- 
zation, or  no  pronounced  form ;  and  the  latter  part  of  the 
Acts,  with  the  Epistles,  shows  a  more  complete  system 
gradually  developed  from  previously  established  germinal 
principles.  Constant  development  and  change  in  divergent 
directions  mark  the  whole  course  of  ecclesiastical  history 
from  the  Apostolic  period  to  the  present  time.  How  far 
these  developments  liave  been  Scriptural,  or  in  accordance 
with  the  leadings  of  God's  Spirit,  and  promotive  of  the  best 
interests  of  the  Church,  it  does  not  fall  within  the  province 


"TS???^ 


58 


PLANTING   OF  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


of  these  letters  to  inquire.  May  \vc  not,  however,  raise  the 
general  Cjuestioii  as  to  whether  the  present  forms  of  church 
govennnent  are  not  severally  characterized  by  the  special 
development  of  some  one  clement  (o  the  exclusion  of  others 
which  should  siip])lcmcnt  and  modify  it,  presenting  ab- 
normal and  disproportionate  growths,  each  Scriptural  in  its 
dominating  idea,  but  unscriptinal  in  its  human  narrow- 
ness? 

4.  Another  question  arises  in  this  connection  of  great 
importance.  In  our  present  position  of  missionaries  repre- 
senting different  branches  of  the  Church,  closely  related  to 
one  another  in  a  connnon  work,  our  methods  simple  and 
presenting  many  points  of  agreement,  and  our  difTercnt 
systems  of  organization  in  a  rudimental  imdeveloped  state, 
should  we  not  make  use  of  our  opportunity  to  avoid  as  far 
as  possible  in  the  future  the  divergences  which  impair  the 
unity  and  efficiency  of  the  Church  at  home,  retaining  and 
perpetuating  a  degree  of  uniformity  and  co-operation 
which  in  western  lands  seems  impracticable?  Is  it  not  our 
duty  to  do  this?  Would  it  not  be  in  accordance  with  the 
express  teachings  of  our  Saviour  and  also  with  the  wishes 
of  most  of  those  whom  we  represent?  Would  it  not  have 
a  decided  influence  for  good  on  the  home  churches? 

5.  On  the  supposition  that  present  forms  of  church  or- 
ganization are  adapted  to  secure  the  best  spiritual  interests 
of  the  Church  in  tlie  West,  the  presumption  is  that  in  cer- 
tain respects  they  are  for  that  very  reason  not  adapted  to 
the  wants  of  mission  churches  in  China.  What  circum- 
stances could  differ  more  witlely  than  those  of  churches 
wiiich  are  the  development  of  centuries  or  a  millennium  of 
Christian  culture,  and  those  just  emerging  from  heathen- 
ism? 


Scripture  Teachings  as  to  the  Best  System  for  China. 

The  question  recurs.  What  may  we  learn  from  the  Scrip- 
tures as  to  the  best  system  of  organization  and  supervision 
for  the  Church  in  China  at  the  present  time? 

I.  The  extension  of  the  Church  must  depend  mainly  on 
the  godly  lives  and  voluntary  activities  of  its  members. 

In  early  times,  as  a  result  of  ordinary  business  and  social 


STATIONS  TRHSENI'  AXn    I-ROSPECIIVI-: 


59 


intercourse  and  the  aggressive  zeal  of  the  early  Christians, 
Christianity  found  its  way  to  Cyprus,  Syria,  Cilicia  and 
Egypt,  and  as  far  west  as  Rome.  The  disciples  went  every- 
where ])reaching  the  Word.  A  great  advance  had  been 
made  before  the  Apostle  Paul  was  called  from  his  home  by 
Ijarnai)as  to  assist  and  strengthen  the  disciples  already 
gathered  at  Anlioch.  Wherever  he  went  afterwards  in  his 
work  of  establishing  churches  in  new  fields,  he  obtained 
from  the  believers  gathered  into  the  Church  numerous 
voluntary  helpers  and  coadjutors,  both  men  and  women. 

1  can  find  no  authority  in  the  Scriptures,  either  in  specific 
teaching  or  Apostolic  example,  for  the  practice  so  common 
iiowailays,  of  seeking  out  and  employing  ])aid  agents  as 
preachers.  At  the  time  when  Paul  commenced  his  public 
ministry,  the  churches  established  in  Syria  and  Cilicia 
might  iio  doubt  have  furnished  a  large  number  of  such 
persons,  if  they  had  been  wanted.  It  may  be  said  that  there 
were  no  missionary  boards  at  that  time  and  that  the  Church 
was  too  weak  to  undertake  such  an  enterprise.  This  ex- 
planation, however,  does  not  meet  the  case.  Paul  did  not 
hesitate  to  call  upon  the  churches  for  contributions  when 
they  were  needed.  He  evidently  thought  them  able  to  give 
and  that  it  was  their  privilege  and  an  advantage  to  them- 
selves to  give,  and  they  did  contribute  freely  when  they 
were  asked  to  do  so. 

The  evils  resulting  from  employing  new  converts  as  paid 
agents  for  preaching  the  Gospel  have  been  referred  to  in 
previous  pages.  What  wt  wish  to  emjihasize  here  is  that 
such  a  course  is  without  precedent  in  the  P.ible.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  early  Church  were  all  witness-bearers.  Such  we 
must  teach  our  church  members  to  be;  and  without  such 
an  agency  as  our  main  dependence,  we  have  little  reason 
to  expect  the  Gospel  to  prevail  in  China. 

2.  Elders  must  be  "  appointed  in  every  city."  This  duty 
is  enforced  in  Scripture,  both  by  precejjt  and  example. 
Missionaries  have  not  been  backward  in  carrying  out  this 
injimction.  It  is  possible  that  we  have  erred  in  the  oppo- 
site direction.  While  elders  should  be  ordained  as  soon  as 
practicable,  we  should  not  forget  that  the  qualifications  of 
elders  are  minutely  laid  down  in  the  Scriptures:  and  to 
choose  and  ordain  men  to  this  office  without  the  requisite 


6o 


riANTlNG    OF  AI/SSIOiVAKV   CIUKCIIES 


(inalifications  is  in  fact  goinp  contrary  to,  rallicr  than  obey- 
ing the  Scri])tincs.  If  suitable  cklcrs  arc  not  to  be  fonnd, 
we  slionld  wait  for  tlieni,  however  long  a  waiting  may  be 
re(|uirc(l. 

The  Apostolic  usage  of  ordaining  ciders  soon  after  their 
reception  into  the  Church,  under  circumstances  very  dif- 
ferent from  ours  in  China,  is  apt  to  mislead  us.  The  work 
of  the  Apostles  in  heathen  lands  commenced  for  the  most 
part  in  the  synagogues  of  the  Jews  resident  in  those  lands. 
Even  in  such  places  as  Lystra,  where  there  seems  to  have 
been  no  synagogue,  there  were  Jewish  families  and  their 
inflncnce  had  been  felt  by  the  native  population.  Among 
the  first  converts  to  Christianity  were  both  Jews  and  Jewisli 
proselytes  who  for  generations  had  been  freed  from  the 
thraldom  of  idolatry.  They  were  sincere  worshippers  of 
Jehovah,  familiar  with  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures  and 
waiting  for  the  long  promised  Messiah.  From  such  per- 
sons the  first  elders  of  the  Christian  Church  were  no  doubt 
lai'gely  drawn.  It  is  not  strange  that,  as  a  rule,  we  in  China 
have  to  wait  for  years  before  Christians  of  the  same  intel- 
ligence and  stability  of  character  can  lie  had.  Our  experi- 
ence in  this  matter  in  Shan-tung  is  worth  relating. 

Twenty  years  ago  our  mission  in  considering  tliis  subject 
reasoned  on  this  wise:  We  are  Presbyterians,  and  our 
churches  should  be  organized  from  the  first  on  Presbyte- 
rian principles.  If  we  caimot  get  men  for  elders  as  well 
(|ualificd  as  we  should  like,  we  must  take  the  best  men  we 
can  find,  men  who  seem  sincere  and  earnest  Christians,  and 
who  mav  develop  in  character  and  ability  to  fulfil  the  duties 
of  elders  by  having  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  this 
office  laid  upon  them.  With  these  views  and  expectations 
several  churches  were  formally  and  constitutionally  or- 
ganized. It  was  found,  however,  in  not  a  small  proportion 
of  cases  that  the  elders  did  not,  or  could  not,  perform  their 
official  duties,  and  were  an  obstruction  to  any  one  else  at- 
tempting to  do  so.  They  were  placed  in  a  false  position, 
injurious  to  themselves  and  the  churches  of  which  they  had 
the  nominal  charge.  Some  were  hardly  al)le  to  sustain  the 
character  of  an  ordinary  church  member  and  others  were  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years  exconnnunicatcd.  We  then  took 
action  as  a  Presbytery,  determining  that'  elders  should  not 


SVA/'/OiVS 


rKESIuyr   A  A'/)    ri<OSPI:CTlVr. 


6 1 


hi'  appnintc.l  unlc.ss  their  .|uali(lcations  conformed  in  some 
good  degree  to  those  rec|uired  in  Scripl.ne.     Perhaps  we 

In  central  Shan-lung  no  church  has  as  yet  been  organ- 
ized wuh  nal.ve  elders,  though  sonu-  of  our  stations  hale 
md  an  existence  w.th  from  ten  to  twentv  and  more  ch     cl 
members  for  a  penod  of  seven  or  eight  n  ears.    We  are    op 
■ng  very  soon  to  ordain  elders  in  some  of  Ihese  stations       „ 
tl  e  mean  nne  the  ea.lers  are  unofficiallv  perfornung  ,nan  • 

appoi  ttd.  1  he  nussionary  or  evangelist  in  charge  trans- 
acts all  miportant  business  by  consultation  with  the  whole 
company  of  native  Christians  or  Iheir  leaders.  Tec 
Christians  or  eaders  have  only  advisorv  power,  the  au- 
thority of  decH  ing  questions  being  vested  .solely  in  the  mis- 
sionary. It  IS  Ins  aim  to  instruct  and  train  leading  church 
members  in  the  management  of  church  business,  devolving 
It  on  them  as  they  are  able  to  undertake  it,  thus  fitting  th.m 

s  soon  as  possible  for  assuming  the  care  of  (he  churches  al- 
together. The  missionary  keeps  a  record  of  these  meetines 
following  in  almost  all  particulars  the  or.linary  form  of  ses- 
sion records,  and  this  rqwrt  is  presented  to  the  Presbytery 
for  examination  and  revision.  Many  of  our  present  leaders 
v;fl  .nail  probability,  after  they  have  been  fully  trained  and 
ined,  become  our  first  elders.  We  have  found  in  the  ex- 
perience of  the  past  eight  years  much  reason  for  thankful- 
ness that  we  did  not  ordain  elders  at  an  earlier  period 

3.  Our  nnssion  churches  under  the  charge  of  elders  are 
possessed  of  a  Scriptural  organization  without  the  addition 
0  a  paid  pastor  such  as  is  found  in  most  of  our  western 
ciuirches;  and  the  appointing  of  such  a  pastor  might  prove 
injurious  rather  than  advantageous  ' 

In  enlarging  on  this  point  I  will  .piote  the  language  of 

}  W-   '^^■■"'^'•■'y  professor  in  the  Theological  .Semi- 

ary  at  Allegheny,  Pa.     It  has  special  weight  as  coini,,!. 

from  one  who  is  not  only  a  highly  esteemed  theological 

acher  m  our  Church,  but  has  been  for  years  a  missionary 
n  India  and  has  the  advantage  of  large  experience  and  ob- 
ervat.on  of  mission  matters.  The  quotations  are  taken 
from  an  article  in  the  "  Catholic  Presbyterian,"  November 
'f^/Q-  page  347.    Dr.  Kellogg  says: 


62 


rLANTINC    OF  MISSIONARY   CIIVKCITES 


;'M 


■ 


■•;    '), 


i!, 


"  VVc  fear  tlicrc  is  icasf)ii  to  think  that  our  missionaries 
Iiavc  often  been  in  too  nnich  liastc  to  introduce-  tlie  one- 
man  pastorate  of  the  European  and  American  clnirches, 
and  tliat  the  {growth  of  a  church  bearing  tlie  true  indivicKiai 
character  of  the  jiarticnlar  jicople  or  race  has  been  thereby 
seriously  retarded.  I'lxed  in  the  conviction  that  the  primi- 
tive form  of  C'hurcli  (government  was  l^resbyterian,  men 
Iiave  api)arently  jum[)ed  to  tlie  concUtsioii  that  therefore 
the  present  form  of  I'rcsbytcriaiiism  is  the  primitive  and 
Apostohc  arrangement, — a  point,  we  may  venture  to  af- 
firm, wliich  has  not  yet  been  estabhshed,  nor  is  likely  soon 
to  be.  Under  this  belief  they  have  not  only  felt  that  if  they 
established  churches  they  must  give  them  a  Presbyterian 
form  of  government — in  which  they  Iiave  been  right — but 
that  it  must  be  that  particular  form  of  development  of  Pres- 
byterian principles  which  has  obtained  among  ourselves; 
wherein,  as  it  seems  to  us,  they  have  been  as  clearly  wrong. 
For  to  take  any  one  of  our  full-grown  ecclesiastical  systems 
and  attempt  to  set  it  nj)  bodily  in  our  heathen  fields,  regard- 
less of  the  widely  differing  conditions  of  the  case,  is,  we 
submit,  a  great  mistake.  ...  In  too  many  instances,  the 
course  pursued  has  proved  a  mistake  by  its  practical  work- 
ing.   ... 

"  But,  it  is  asked  with  some  confidence.  What  is  the  mis- 
sionary to  do?  Shall  we  leave  the  young  church  without  a 
pastor?  We  ask  in  reply,  Where  in  the  New  Testament  is 
there  any  intimation  that  the  Apostles  ordained  pastors,  in 
the  modern  sense  of  that  word,  over  the  churches  which 
they  formed?  We  read  over  and  again  of  their  ordaining 
"  elders  "  in  every  church,  and  that,  having  done  so,  they 
left  them  and  went  elsewhere.  Where  is  there  the  slightest 
.hint  that,  at  this  early  period,  any  one  from  among  these 
elders  was  singled  out  and  appointed  by  Paul  to  a  position 
like  that  of  the  modern  minister  or  pastor  of  a  church,  or 
that  until  such  an  officer  was  found  they  did  not  dare  to 
leave  the  church?  " 

4.  The  appointment  of  elders  should  not  interfere  witli,j 
the  voluntary  activities  of  church  members.     Rather  than 
encourage  such  an  idea  I  should  postpone  their  appoint- 
ment. 

We  are  taught  that,  when  our  Saviour  ascended  on  high, 


STATnuVS  I'RESENT  AND    mosrECTrVE 


63 


_  lie  led  captivity  captive.  an<l  gave  gifts  unto  men  " 
And  he  gave  some  to  be  apostles;  and  some  ,  o  he  s" 
and  some,  evange  ,.sts;  and  sou.c,  pastors  and  teac  r  " 
Elsewhere  we  read  of  "  exhorters,"  '  workers  of  n  frac  e!'" 
speakers  of  tongues,"  "  interpreters  of  tonguci'  "  he  „  '" 
and  goyer.munts,"  "  f,nfts  of  healing,"  an  ''  no  er  to 
cast  out  devds."  May  we  not  confideu  ly  expect  S?at  the 
.vme  Spu-.t  udl  also  confer  .special  gifts  u,S  he  Gmh 
of  he  present,  perhaps  not  the  .same  as  a  first  bu  Sft 
sn.  cd  o  our  tunes  and  circun.stances  as  those  cf  e^rK 
Church  were  to  theirs?  And  shotdd  not  our  method  of 
church  organ,za|iou  bo  such  as  to  give  the  free  t  cope  to 
tlie  exercise  of  all  special  gifts  conferred?  ^ 

earu'cimiH,  ?,'7"'^'^'.,"'^t  "'  "'c  gifts  conferred  on  the 

eai  y   Lhuich      elders     are  not  mduded.     Mav  it  not  be 

I  a    this  IS  because  the  "  gifts  "  are  special  and  va      b  ' 

In  e  the  office  of  elder  is  fixed  and  permanent?  It  is  n  t 
the  function  of  the  elder  or  overseer  as  such  to  assume  i 
undertake  wholly  or  mainly  the  work  of  the  CI  "h 
o  encourage,  direct,  an.l  assist  all  believers  in  the  cxe^c  c 
and  development  of  their  special  gifts  as  members  of  the 
one  sp,nt„a,  body  of  Christ ;  to  set\n  example  of  work  ng 
or  all  to  imitate;  to  be  leaders  and  capta  ns  in  Qiri  t? 
army,  ruhng,  instructing,  and  directing  those  uWe 
under  their  authority  and  care  ose  wno  are 

I  am  disposed  to  think  that  the  tendency  to  make  work- 

'uSn  oV  n  c/r"?  '"■'"'-^-  "f  °ffi-'-'--s  alone   r"tler 
an  of  al    Christians,  |s  introduced  bv  missionaries  from 
the  Church  at  home.    There  is  a  prevailing  disposition 

N^  1  as  m  the  Romish  Church,  to  an  all-pervading  spirit  o 
ccclesiasticsm.  Ihe  Church  is  regarded  as  an  organiza- 
tion under  the  direction  and  superintendence  of  its^'ro,  er 
officer  or  officers,  whose  function  it  is,  for  and  on  behal  of 
.Is  members  and  the  ecclesiastical  judicatory  over  then,  to 
undertake  and  administer  all  clu/rch  matters.  A  cl  mch 
men,ber  has  a  ,|uieling  sense  of  having  discharged  his 
du  y  I  he  has  con.nbuted  generotisly  Towards  iSiillli,  g 
a  suitable  church  edifice  and  the  supj,ort  of  a  preacher  is 
always  found  ,n  his  place  as  a  worshij.per,  and  attends  to 
tlie  prescribed  ntes  and  observances  of  the  Church.    ThS 


64 


ri.ANTIh'C,    OF  M/SS/OiVARy   CHURCHES 


spirit,  wliercver  it  is  found,  tends  to  formalism  both  in  the 
clergv  and  tlie  laity.  W'iiilc  it  is  far  too  prtvaleiit,  and  it 
is  to  he  feared  fjrowintjly  so,  vvc  may  well  rejoice  that  it  is 
by  no  means  nniveisal.  There  are  not  a  few  churches  in 
which  the  main  work  of  the  jiastor  is  to  keep  all  under 
him  at  work.  In  such  chinches  you  will  find  individual 
growth  and  church  growth,  joy  in  God's  service  and  in- 
fluences for  good  extending  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

Mav  we  not  regard  the  religious  activities  which  have 
during  the  present  generation  sprung  up  outside  the 
Church,  such  as  those  connected  with  the  Moody  and 
Sankey  work.  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations,  also 
new  methods  for  reaching  the  masses  recently  adopted  in 
the  English  Church,  and  even  the  "  Salvation  Army,"  as 
legitimate  protests  and  healthy  reactions  against  the  ten- 
dency wdiicli  we  are  reprobating.  Let  us  not,  by  allowing 
our  chinch  members  to  think  that  their  chief  duty  is  to 
contribute  money  to  the  supjiort  of  their  |iastor  and  attend 
religious  services,  reproduce  iicre  in  China  one  of  the  most 
reprehensible  features  of  the  Church  at  home. 

5.  Paid  or  salaried  agents  should  only  be  added  as  the 
people  want  them  and  can  supjjort  them. 

Here  we  meet  with  the  imjjortant  Scriptural  principle 
that  teachers  in  the  Church  should  look  for  help  in  tem- 
poral matters  to  those  whom  they  teach.  Many  advan- 
tages spring  from  this  relation  of  mutual  dependence.  As 
the  pastor  gives  his  time  and  energies  to  his  people  and 
watches  for  their  souls  as  one  who  shall  give  account,  his 
people  naturally  accept  from  him  not  only  instruction  but 
admonition  and  rejiroof.  The  fact  that  he  depends  upon 
them  wholly  or  in  part  for  his  support  gives  to  them  a 
reasonable  claim  upon  his  services,  and  to  him  a  strong 
motive  for  the  diligent  and  conscientious  performance  of 
his  duties.  When  the  native  jtastor  is  supported  by  the 
Foreign  Board  the  advantages  growing  out  of  this  mutual 
dependence  between  jiastor  and  people  are  lost,  and  a  one- 
sided and  unnatural  relation  is  introduced  of  ])eople  and 
pastor  depending  on  foreign  aid,  which  works  evil  rather 
than  good. 

The  experience  of  the  London  Mission  in  Anioy  is 
worthy  of  notice  in  this  connection.     In  the  year  1868  a 


STATlOh'S  VRESENT  AND   rROSPECTIVE 


0$ 


debt  of  $100,000  made  it  necessary  for  the  foreign  society 
to  retrench  and  the  native  churches  were  forced,  with  great 

pasors.  I  hat  financial  cnsis  is  now,  I  believe,  looked 
back  o  as  a  providential  blessing.  It  developed  the 
strength  independence  and  self-respect  of  the  native  Chris- 
t.an.s  an,l  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  of  progress  Is 
It  not  probable  that  there  are  other  stations  aiul  other  de- 
partments o  mission  work  from  which  the  witlulrawal  of 
foreign  funds  would  i-rove  in  the  end  a  blessing  rather 
than  a  misfortune?  *' 

It  does  not  follow  from  this  principle  of  nuitual  depend- 
ence that  the  native  pastor  must  neces.sarily  receive  a 
regular  salary  and  full  support  from  those  to  whom  he 
ministers ;  the  wisdom  of  the  London  Mission  in  insist- 
ing that  they  should,  in  the  case  above  referred  to  may 
possibly  be  questioned.  In  the  early  history  of  a  station 
it  may  not  be  either  neces.sary  or  desirable  for  the  preach- 
er or  pastor  to  depend  entirely  on  his  flock  for  support 
or  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  their  spiritual  care  and  over- 
sight. In  the  early  history  of  the  United  States  and  at 
present  m  the  new  settlements,  the  minister  spent  and  still 
spends  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  his  time  in  secular 
labor  lor  the  maintenance  of  himself  and  family  Existine 
circumstances,  both  at  home  and  on  the  mission  field  may 
make  it  desirable  for  the  good  of  tJic  church  and  usefulness 
of  the  pastor  that  he  sliould  take  the  same  course  The 
relation  of  mutual  dependence  and  responsibility  between 
tlie  teacher  and  the  taught  may  be  fully  expressed  and  the 
advantages  arising  from  that  relation  secured  bv  difi-crent 
'  cgrces  of  help,  according  to  the  needs  of  the  minister  and 
the  ability  of  his  people. 

6.  The  evils  connected  with  the  appointment  and  sup- 
port of  native  pastors  by  foreign  societies  are  such  as  to 
demand  further  consideration. 

The  same  desire  to  stimulate  and  advance  the  work 
prompts  the  employment  of  paid  evangelists  in  opening 
new  fields  and  of  paid  preachers  afterwards.  The  eflfect  in 
)otIi  cases  is,  I  believe,  in  the  end  the  opposite  of  that  in- 
tended. In  the  former  case  the  injury  to  the  cause  devel- 
ops earlier;  in  the  latter  it  is  entailed  on  future  workers  and 


66 


rj.ANTING    OF  AI/SS/ONA/n-   CHURCHES 


}; 


H; 


goes  down  to  successive  generations.  Here  again  I  can- 
not do  better  than  to  quote  further  the  language  of  Dr. 
Kellogg.  In  speaking  of  the  importance  of  not  employ- 
ing and  paying  native  pastors  from  the  funds  of  foreign 
boards,  he  says: 

"This  plan  [that  of  organizing  churches  without  pas- 
tors in  the  modern  sense  of  that  term]  would  also  meet 
the  vexatious,  and — as  it  has  proved  in  sonic  missions  that 
we  could  name — the  hitherto  insoluble  problem  of  the 
sup])ort  of  a  native  pastor.  The  pecuniary  question  has 
been  one  of  the  main  difficulties,  thus  far,  in  the  establish- 
ment of  independent  churches  in  our  foreign  mission  fields. 
It  is  plain  that  if  a  man  be  set  apart  to  give  his  whole  time 
to  the  pastoral  care  of  a  church,  he  is  rightfully  entitled 
to  a  full  sup])ort.  But  where  is  this  to  be  raised?  Most  of 
these  young  churches  in  India,  China  and  Africa  are  very 
poor.  Fix  the  slipeiul  as  low  as  we  will,  they  are  not  able 
to  pay  it.  Shall  the  Church  in  America  or  Europe  supple- 
ment their  contributions?  This  is  often  done,  and  to  the 
inexperienced  might  seem  a  very  simple  and  excellent 
solution  of  the  ilifficulty;  but,  in  fact,  with  this  arrange- 
ment, difficulties  only  multiply.  For  example,  what  shall 
be  the  salary?  If,  as  has  often  been  done,  it  is  fixed  at  a 
point  much  higher  than  the  average  income  of  the  people, 
this  works  great  mischief.  It  elevates  the  pastor  unduly 
above  the  average  condition  of  the  people  of  his  church. 
It  degrades  the  ministry  by  making  the  pastorate  an  object 
of  ambition  to  covetous  and  unworthy  men.  It  makes  the 
church,  in  many  cases,  despair,  from  the  first,  of  reaching 
the  position  of  self-support.  A  moderate  salary  they  might 
in  time  hope  to  be  able  to  pay  of  themselves;  a  higli  salary 
they,  with  good  reason,  look  upon  as  unattainable.  We 
affirm,  without  fear  of  contradiction,  that  no  one  thing  has 
more  effectively  hindered  the  development  of  independent, 
self-sustaining  native  churches  in  many  foreign  fields,  than 
the  high  salaries  which,  with  mistaken  wisdom,  are  paid  to 
many  of  the  native  jiastors  and  helpers  from  the  treasuries 
of  the  home  churches.  Shall  we  then  give  a  low  salary? 
We  shall  not  thereby  escape  serious  difficulty.  Men  edu- 
cated even  as  pastors  commonly  are  in  heathen  fields  feel 
that  they  are  justly  entitled  to  more:  and  when  they  hear 


ST  AT  I  ON. %   PRESENT  AND   PROSrECTIVE 


67 


of  the  hundreds  of  thousands  which  the  churches  at  home 
contribute  for  the  support  of  the  ( iosjiel  and  which  are 
supposed  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  missionary,  they  will 
not  and  do  not  generally  take  kindly  to  the  refusal  to  pay 
at  a  high  figure.  In  this  way  sad  alienations  often  occur 
between  the  foi  'ign  missionary  and  his  native  helpers.  In 
some  parts  of  Northern  India,  in  jjarticular,  this  uniia])i)y 
state  of  things  is  (juite  well  known  and  formed  the  subject 
of  earnest  discussion  at  the  Lahore  and  Allahabad  con- 
ferences.* 

"  It  appears  to  the  writer  that  the  root  of  all  this  trouble 
lies  in  the  direction  indicated.  Have  we  not  been  trying 
to  establish  a  form  of  Church  government  and  organiza- 
tion, which,  however  well  adapted  to  us,  and  however 
Scriptural  in  |)rinciple,  is  in  advance  of  the  jjosition  of  the 
majority  of  our  foreign  mission  churches?  And  is  not  this 
the  real  significance  of  these  trying  experiences  in  the  mat- 
ter of  the  native  pastorate?  On  the  ai)ostolic  plan  of 
Church  organization  there  would  evidently  be  no  room  for 
trouble  of  this  sort.  Here  and  there,  indeed,  upon  our  mis- 
sion fields,  there  may  be  a  native  church  which,  in  wealth, 
intelligence  and  members  is  ready  for  the  one-man  pas- 
torate; but  we  believe  that,  for  the  great  majoritv  of 
churches,  which  are  weak  and  poor,  the  original  Presbv- 
terian  system  of  rulership  and  instruction  liy  a  plural  elder- 
ship is  the  one  form  which  is  adapted  to  tlieir  need.  The 
other  will  no  doubt  come  in  due  time,  but  we  act  most  un- 
wisely in  attempting  to  force  it  prematurely." 

It  may  be  urged  as  a  further  objection  against  the  early 
appointment  of  native  pastors  over  each  church,  that  the 
assumption  of  such  a  burden  by  a  weak  station  while  ill 
able  to  bear  it  renders  it  impossible  for  it  to  do  what  it 
ought,  and  otherwise  could  and  would  do,  for  others,  and 
induces  in  its  members  a  fixed  habit  of  planning  and  labor- 
ing only  for  themselves.  The  sin  of  selfishness  belongs  to 
churches  as  well  as  individuals,  and  it  always  bears  bitter 
fruit.  We  should  guard  against  it  from  the  first,  teaching 
young  converts  that  "  there  is  that  scattereth  and  yet  in- 
creaseth;"  that  "it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  re- 

*  The  Presbyterian  Board  has  met  with  precisely  the  same  difficulty  in 
Persia. 


68 


PLANTING    or  MISSIONARY  CI/UKCIIES 


ceive,"  and  "  that  those  who  water  others  shall  be  watered 
themselves."  The  first  contributions  of  the  early  Chris- 
tians which  wc  read  of  in  the  New  Testament  were  for 
others  and  not  for  themselves. 

Experience  Proves  the  Wisdom  of  Scripture  Teachings. 

Theories  are  very  apt  to  mislead  us;  our  safest  guide  is 
practical  experience.  Though  our  work  in  Shan-tung  is 
still  in  its  infancy,  it  will  throw  light  on  some  questions  of 
great  importance. 

1.  It  has  been  proved  that  the  extension  of  country 
work  anil  the  establishment  of  new  stations  are  practicable 
without  paid  [ireachcrs.  The  more  tlian  sixty  stations  un- 
der my  care  have  been  connnenced  within  eight  years 
almost  exclusively  through  the  voluntary  efforts  of  inijiaid 
church  members.  My  helpers,  who  have  never  been  at 
any  one  time  more  than  four,  have  only  followed  up,  fos- 
tered and  directed  the  work  begun  by  unpaid  Christians. 

2.  These  stations  do  not  now  need  pecuniary  aid  from 
foreigners,  and  such  aid  would  in  my  opinion  do  more 
harm  than  good.  The  leaders  in  charge,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  the  helper,  arc,  I  think,  caring  for  the  stations 
as  well  as  they  could  be  cared  for  under  the  circumstances. 
If  the  plan  should  be  adopted  of  providing  paid  preachers 
for  eacli  station,  they  would  of  necessity  have  to  be  chosen 
from  the  leaders,  as  there  is  not  a  sufficient  supply  of  sucii 
men  elsewhere.  Paying  them  for  their  work  would  not 
increase  their  influence,  but  rather  diminish  it  and  would, 
no  doubt,  excite  envy  and  dissatisfaction  among  the  un- 
employed. Besides,  the  characters  of  these  leaders  are  not 
sufficiently  tested  to  warrant  their  being  used  in  that  way. 
The  natives  would,  I  think,  be  unwilling  to  make  such  a 
selection.  If  it  should  be  attempted,  they  would  probably 
divide  into  parties  influenced  by  personal  motives,  and  the 
result  would  be  great  harm  to  the  leaders  and  to  the 
Church.  Any  cliange  at  present  would  in  my  opinion  be 
preinature  and  injurious,  and  we  can  only  wait  for  future 
developtnents  and  Divine  guidance. 

3.  These  stations  are  not  only  able  to  provide  for  their 
own  wants,  with  the  superintendence  which  is  given  them, 


STATIONS   PRESENT  AND   PROSTECTIl  E 


69 


but  could  and  (in,i;ht  to  (In  iiuK  li  fnr  the  propagation  of  the 
Cospel  in  the  regions  beyond.  They  might  easily  con- 
tribute five  hundred  dollars  a  year.  These  Christians  for- 
merly contributed  for  idnlatrous  i)urp<ises  prnliablv  double 
that  amount;  and  if  each  church  member  sliould  give  one- 
tenth  of  his  or  her  income,  the  yearly  contribution  for  be- 
nevolent objects  would  not  be  less  than  two  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year.  As  it  is.  they  do  not  contribute  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  for  benevolent  purposes,  aside  froin  the 
necessary  expenses  of  keejiing  up  their  own  chapels.  These 
facts  show  a  manifest  failure  in  duty  on  the  part  both  of 
the  foreign  missionary  and  the  converts. 

The  causes  of  this  failure  are  various.     First  and  fore- 
most, no  doubt,  is  the  want  of  a  cultivated  habit  of  system- 
atic giving.    Another  reason  is  the  failure  to  set  before  the 
native  Christians  suitable  objects  to  which  they  should 
contribute.     Here  perhaps  the  principal  fault  of  the  mis- 
sionary lies.     Having  no  pressing  need  for  money  m  the 
conduct  of  these  stations,  and  there  being  great  danger  to 
the  natives  in  boarding  and  manipulating  money  kept  for 
future  use,  it  was  feared  that  an  objectless  contribution  of 
money  might  only  be  a  means  of  temptation  and  do  harm. 
Last  autumn  the  Christians  in  one  of  the  hsicn  occupied  by 
my  stations,  subscribed  about  sixty  dollars  for  employing 
a  helper  to  devote  his  whole  time  specially  to  that  hsicn 
and  would,  I  think,  have  paid  it  cheerfully,  if  the  right  man 
could  have  been  found;   but  neither  they  nor  I  could  ob- 
tain a  man  whose  gifts  and  qualifications,  as  compared  to 
those  already  in  charge,  were  such  as  to  make  hini  desir- 
able. . 

During  the  last  few  vears  I  have  urged  the  stations  to 
contribute  to  the  support  of  the  helpers,  as  the  most  natural 
and  available  object  which  could  be  presented  to  them 
They  have  done  so  to  some  extent,  but  the  plan  has  not 
worked  well.  Thev  have  very  naturally  regarded  the  help- 
ers as  my  men  and  not  theirs,  since  they  are  chosen  and 
directed  by  me  in  the  carrving  out  of  my  plans.  Not  only 
have  they  shown  a  disinclination  to  contribute  to  their  sup- 
port but  the  helpers  also  are  averse  to  receiving  aid  from 
then'i  I  have  been  disposed  to  press  the  point  against 
them    but  during  the  past  year  have  come  to  the  conclu- 


mm 


70 


PLANTING    or   nr/SSrONAKV   IIII'RCUF.S 


sion  that  the  instincts  of  the  natives  aie  ])t'riia])s  riglit,  and 
that  my  plan  has  been  unnatural  and  impracticable.  Here 
again  we  are  led  back  by  experience  to  the  teachings  of 
Scripture;  as  the  Apostle  Paul  ])rovided  not  only  for  his 
own  wants,  but  also  for  those  who  were  witli  hiiu,  and  ap- 
pealed to  the  churches  to  acknowledge  the  fact  that  none 
whom  he  iiad  sent  to  them  had  received  jiav  from  thetu. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Laughlin  is  now  assisting  nie  in  my  country 
work  and  will,  I  trust,  soon  take  entire  charge  of  it.  We 
are  this  autunui  (1885)  endeavoring  to  inaugurate  the  fol- 
lowing plan  from  which  we  hope  for  good  results:  The 
Christians  comprised  within  the  bounds  of  each  district  or 
portion  of  each  district,  are  to  choose  for  themselves  two 
men  to  go  out  as  their  representatives  and,  supported  by 
them,  to  work  for  the  evangelization  of  new  districts.  No 
change  is  to  be  made  for  the  jiresent  in  the  relations  and 
ordinary  occupations  of  the  men  so  used.  They  are  to  be 
away  from  their  homes  two  months  in  the  autumn  and  two 
in  the  spring,  the  times  when  both  they  and  the  people 
generally  are  at  leisure  and  the  weather  is  most  favoralile 
for  travelling,  and  when  absent  are  not  to  receive  a  salary, 
but  only  a  sum  to  cover  travelling  expenses.  We  hope 
that  in  this  way  aggressive  zeal  and  a  habit  of  giving  will  be 
developed;  that  much  may  be  accomplished  in  the  way  of 
evangelistic  work;  that  tlie  reflex  influence  on  the  stations 
may  be  helpful;  and  that  from  the  persons  selected  year  by 
year,  men  may  be  found  who,  after  the  necessary  testing 
and  sifting,  may  be  advanced  to  more  important  and  re- 
sponsible positions  in  the  future. 


BEGINNING   WORK 

What  has  been  written  thus  far  presupposes  a  state  of 
thuigs  m  which  there  are  native  Christians  to  be  organized 
ml(j  stations.  We  will  next  consider  <iuestions  relating  to 
work  in  new  fields  where  there  are  neither  stations  nor  in- 
(piirers. 

To  missionaries  beginning  such  a  work,  without  native 
converts  or  inquirers  and  without  a  knowledge  of  the  lan- 
guage, many  questions  arise  of  the  hrst  importance.  As 
the  beginnings  contain  the  seeds  of  future  growth  and  de- 
velopment both  for  good  and  for  evil,  every  step  should  be 
taken  with  deliberation  and  praver.  In'  addressing  my 
younger  brethren,  I  take  it  for  granted  that  they  will  not 
be  unwilling  that  I  should  use  a  considerable  degree  of 
freedom  in  detailing  my  own  observations  and  experiences. 

The  Study  of  the  Language. 

I.  It  may  well  be  a  matter  of  congratulation  that  the 
newly  arrived  missionary  is  exempt  for  the  first  year  or 
two  from  the  pressure  and  responsibility  of  dcciduig  the 
many  questions  of  mission  policy  upon  which  he  nmst 
form  an  opinion  at  a  later  period.  Whatever  department 
of  work  he  may  devote  himself  to  in  the  future,  there  is  no 
room  for  doubt  that  his  first  duty  is  to  give  his  time  and 
energies  to  the  thorough  acquisition  of  the  language  as  a 
necessary  prerequisite  to  uschilness  in  work  of  any  kind. 
For  this  it  is  of  the  greatest  advantage  to  be  free,  as  far  as 
possible,  from  cares  and  intcrrujitions  of  every  description. 

2.  It  is  very  desirable  to  obtain  the  occasional  assistance 
of  some  foreigner  well  versed  in  the  language  in  guarding 
against  mistakes  which  are  almost  sure  to  be  made  in  pro- 
nunciation, aspirates  and  idioms.  None  of  these  should 
be  neglected.    It  is  well  to  know  from  the  first  that  the  ear 

"I 


72 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


m 


has  to  be  trained,  as  well  as  the  vocal  organs,  and  that  in 
discriminating  and  determining  the  sounds  of  the  Chinese 
language  one's  own  senses  are  not  to  be  depended  u])on. 
It  often  ha|)i)ens,  as  two  or  three  persons  listen  to  the  same 
vocal  utterance,  that  each  hears  it  difTercntly,  according  to 
his  iiidi\i(lual  habit  or  preconception.  Of  course  all  can- 
not be  right.  Where  acknowledged  authorities  agree,  if 
the  learner  follows  his  own  ear  in  opposition  to  them,  he 
will  probably  go  astray  in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  a  hun- 
dred. Where  authorities  differ,  it  will  generally  be  on 
comparatively  unimportant  points  and  it  will  be  a  matter 
of  little  consec|uence  whether  you  follow  one  or  the  other. 

3.  Even  the  sounds  of  an  intelligent  native  accurately 
heard  and  reproduced  are  not  as  sure  a  guide  as  a  thor- 
oughly elaborated  and  consistent  classification  of  sounds 
like  that  found  in  Williams'  Dictionary  or  Wade's  Syl- 
labary, or  the  dictionaries  and  phrase  books  representing 
the  southern  dialects  of  China.  Variations  of  individual 
teachers  from  the  standard  pronunciation  will  probably  be 
fotmd  to  be  localisms  or  personal  peculiarities.  The  sys- 
tems of  pronunciation  referred  to  are  the  result  of  the  con- 
sensus of  opinion  of  many  foreigners,  who  may  be  regarded 
as  experts,  and  of  numerous  trained  natives,  during  a  suc- 
cession of  many  years  or  generations.  A  person  may 
choose  between  Wade's  system  and  Williams'  in  accord- 
ance with  his  purpose  to  speak  the  ])ure  Peking  Mandarin 
or  a  more  general  Mandarin.  Either  system  is  excellent 
and  the  differences  between  them  are  practically  of  little 
importance.  They  are  much  less  than  exist  between  the 
languages  of  many  Chinese  officials  who  can  converse  with 
one  another  without  difficulty. 

4.  While  it  is  no  doubt  desirable  sooner  or  later  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  localisms,  it  is  perhaps  better  at  first 
to  master  the  standard  form  of  the  dialect  spoken,  whether 
the  Mandarin  or  any  of  the  southern  dialects.  Localisms 
will  be  easily  and  almost  unconsciously  accjuired  after- 
wards as  they  are  needed.  Taking  this  course  will  secure 
a  man's  being  generally  intelligible;  while  those  with 
whom  he  is  constantly  associated  in  his  home,  where  his 
dialect  may  not  be  spoken  in  its  purest  form,  will  prefer 
to  hear  hiiu  speak  without  localisms. rather  than  with  them 


BEGINNING    WORK- 


n 


and  will  imderstand  him  almost  if  not  (juite  as  well.  By 
adopting  this  course,  church  members  would  gradually 
become  acquainted  with  and  he  able  to  use  the  standard 
form  of  their  dialect,  and  thus  indirectly  the  diffusion  of 
Christianity  would  i)roinote  uniformity  in  the  language  of 
the  people  and  as  a  necessary  consequence  facilitate  gen- 
eral intercourse. 

5.  A  young  missionary  in  acquiring  the  language  should 
eagerly  avail  himself  of  all  the  "  helps  "'  at  his  command. 
Phrase  books,  granmiars,  dictionaries,  a  careful  and  well- 
trained  native  teacher,  and  the  assistance  and  criticism  of 
some  foreigner  are  all  important. 

6.  The  native  teacher  should  be  made  to  understand 
that  giving  satisfaction  to  his  employer  and  retaining  his 
place  depend  on  his  laying  aside  Chinese  ideas  of  defer- 
ence and  politeness,  so  far  as  they  would  prevent  his  cor- 
recting the  same  mistake  of  his  foreign  employer  fifty 
times,  if  necessary,  as  it  probably  will  be.  It  is  a  fact  as 
common  as  it  is  unfortunate,  that  a  teacher  .sometimes 
learns  foreignized  or  individualized  Chinese  of  the  for- 
eigner, who  is  led  to  sui)pose  from  the  ease  with  which  he 
is  able  to  conmumicate  with  his  teacher,  that  he  is  making 
rapid  progress  in  the  acquisition  of  the  language,  while  he 
has  unconsciously  been  playing  a  game  with  the  Chinese 
teacher  of  "  give  and  take."  The  result  of  this  process  is  a 
kind  of  compromise  between  the  English  and  the  Chinese 
languages,  made  up  of  Chinese  words  with  an  admixture 
to  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  foreign  idioms,  proiumcia- 
tions,  inflections,  emphasis  and  aspirates,  or  want  of  as- 
pirates. The  extreme  result  of  a  similar  process  is  found 
in  the  "  Pidgin  English." 

7.  Frequent  changes  in  methods  of  study  are  sometimes 
desirable  in  order  to  break  up  monotony  and  avoid  weari- 
ness. Each  individual  will  learn  by  experience  the  par- 
ticular way  of  prosecuting  his  studies  which  suits  him  best. 
Most  persons  find  that  from  one  to  three  hours  a  day  with 
a  Chinese  teacher  in  getting  correct  sounds  from  his  lips, 
are  as  much  as  can  be  spent  profitably  at  first.  The  great 
work,  that  of  memorizing  words  and  sentences,  can  be 
done  better  quietly  by  one's  self.  When  a  good  beginning 
has  been  made  in  pronunciation,  tones  and  aspirates,  only 


74 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY   CHURCHES 


the  occasional  help  of  a  foreigner  is  required.  In  the 
course  of  frfini  six  months  to  a  year,  most  ])ersons  will  find 
it  very  helpful  to  spend  a  good  deal  of  time  mainly  or  ex- 
clusively with  natives,  so  as  to  force  themselves  to  speak 
Chinese.  At  this  period,  a  tour  into  the  country  or  living 
for  a  time  in  the  country  without  a  foreigner,  making  a 
companion  of  one's  personal  teacher  or  a  native  preacher, 
is  very  useful. 

In  the  course  of  a  year  or  more,  when  one  is  able  to  con- 
verse with  sonic  freedom,  it  is  generally  desirable  to  change 
the  teacher,  as  facility  of  communication  with  him  will  be 
partly  the  result,  and  that  imavoidably,  of  a  mutual  adapta- 
tion to  each  other.  A  change  of  teachers,  or  talking  a  good 
deal  with  natives  generally,  will  enlarge  the  learner's  vo- 
cabulary and  show  him  how  far  he  has  got  on  in  acquiring 
the  language  as  spoken  by  the  people.  With  all  the  helps 
which  can  be  obtained  a  man  must  depend  mainly  on 
regular,  persistent,  hard  study.  If  he  has  a  natural  gift 
for  languages  it  will  of  course  be  invaluable,  but  even  this 
must  not  be  trusted  to  as  the  chief  dependence. 

8.  In  the  course  of  two  or  three  years  or  more,  the  mis- 
sionary may  form  a  permanent  or  general  plan  of  study 
for  his  lifetime.  Some  think  it  best  to  confine  their  atten- 
tion to  the  Chinese  spoken  language  and  regard  an  attempt 
to  learn  the  written  language  or  ~arn-li — with  probably  a 
very  imperfect  and  unsatisfactory  result — a  useless  waste  of 
time,  which  might  better  be  spent  in  mastering  the  ver- 
nacular and  fitting  themselves  for  effective  preaching. 
One  might  indeed  in  this  way  save  much  time  and  also 
find  a  sphere  of  great  usefulness,  as  a  large  proportion  of 
the  population  of  China  is  only  acquainted  with  the  spoken 
language.  To  reach  all  classes,  however,  and  especially  the 
influential  classes,  the  knowledge  of  the  zirn-Ii  is  of  im- 
mense advantage.  It  may  be  acquired  in  connection  with 
a  great  deal  of  other  work,  if  the  study  of  it  is  prosecuted 
methodically  and  persistently  and  the  missionary  avoids 
burdening  Iiimself  with  so  much  and  so  many  kinds  of 
work  as  to  make  it  impossible.  I  should  strongly  recom- 
mend from  the  first  a  regular  exercise  in  writing  charac- 
ters and  in  memorizing  select  passages  of  the  Classics. 


BEGINNING    WORK- 


75 


Beginning  Direct  Missionary  Work. 

I.  Here,  if  1  mistake  not,  we  are  apt  to  be  too  hasty. 
After  years  of  preparation  at  Ikjuic  we  are  anxious  to 
begin  our  life  work  at  once.  We  hardly  realize  that  aside 
from  the  study  of  the  language  other  special  preparation 
for  tiie  work  in-fore  us  is  still  necessarv.  If  a  man  has 
come  from  home  designated  to  a  particular  department  of 
woik,  or  the  exigencies  of  his  field  on  his  arrival  consti- 
tute a  call  to  some  special  work,  the  case  is  quite  dilTcrent. 
If  there  is  no  such  call,  I  should,  as  a  rule,  advise  him  to 
keep  clear  from  the  responsibilities  and  distractions  of  an 
iiuieiiendent  personal  work,  for  three,  four  or  more  years. 
One  ought  not  to  alUnv  himself  to  be  troubled  with  the 
thought  that  he  is  iiolding  back  and  not  taking  !iis  full 
share  of  labor,  or  with  the  fear  that  he  may  lay  iiimself 
open  to  such  imputations  from  others.  I  rec'onmicnd  this 
plan  as  the  best  course  for  securing  the  greatest  useful- 
ness. In  the  meantime,  while  the  young  missionary  mav 
not  be  able  to  point  to  any  tangible  results  of  work'of  his 
own,  he  may  have  the  satisfaction  of  doing  good  from  the 
first  and  that  in  many  ways.  He  may  bring  a  cheering 
gleam  of  sunshine  from  the  home-land  to  those  who  are 
worn  and  weary  and  pcriiaps  disheartened  i)y  the  pressure 
of  accumulated  and  exhausting  toil.  In  leisure  hours  he 
can  relieve  other  missionaries  of  some  kinds  of  secular 
uork  which  he  can  probably  do  as  well  as  they,  leaving 
them  free  to  devote  more  time  to  work  for  which'  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  language  is  a  necessity.  In  a  godly,  imstlfish, 
Christ-like  walk,  he  may  produce  deep  and  lasting  impres- 
sions for  good,  both  on  natives  and  foreigners,  infore  he 
can  begin  to  speak  in  the  native  language.  As  he  advances 
in  his  knowledge  of  Chinese  he  can  help  his  brethren  in 
many  ways,  such  as  chapel  preaching,  teaching  a  class  in  a 
school,  or  accompanying  and  assisting  older  missionaries 
on  itinerating  tours.  These  kinds  of  work  and  all  kinds 
lot  work,  while  they  will  be  a  help  to  others  and  the  common 
cause,  will  be  a  still  greater  help  to  himself — just  the  prep- 
[aration  and  training  which  he  needs. 

2.   I  should  advise  a  young  missionary  when  lie  has  ac- 
quired the  language  or  while  he  is  still  acquiring  it,  to 


76 


n.ANTIh'C,    Of'    !\IISSIONARY  CHURCH  US 


REGINhrjivc    WORK 


visit  (iiffcrciit  stations  connected  with  his  own  mission  and 
stations  of  other  missions  to  acquaint  himself  by  jiersonal 
observation,  as  well  as  by  a  special  course  of  reading,  with 
the  divers  methods  employed,  and  not  to  be  hasty  in  form- 
ing opinions  and  acting  upon  them  until  he  has  gathered 
sufficient  materials  upon  which  to  found  tiicse  o[)ini()ns. 

3.  The  oi)posite  comse  is  liable  to  many  objections. 
Confining  one's  self  to  the  place  where  he  is  located,  subject 
to  one  set  of  personal  and  local  influences,  forming  opin- 
ions and  acting  on  them  at  an  early  period,  is  apt  to  make 
a  man  narrow  in  the  beginning  and  then  confirm  him  in 
his  narrowness.  In  taking  up  an  individual  work  at  an 
early  period,  he  meets  with  dilTicuIties  and  resixMisibilitics 
which  he  had  not  anticipated ;  a  great  deal  of  time  is  wasted 
in  the  laborious  and  imperfect  performance  of  work  which 
a  few  years  later  might  be  attended  to  with  care  and  suc- 
cess. Plans  for  continued  study,  for  which  it  was  supposed 
plenty  of  leisure  would  be  afforded,  have  to  be  given  up  in 
consequence  of  pressure  of  engagements,  pre-occupation 
of  mind,  or  exhaustion  of  body.  By  undertaking  work 
which  one  is  incompetent  to  do  and  the  difliculties  of  which 
one  cannot  anticiiiate.inqjortant  interests  are  imperilled,  in- 
jurious impressions  jiroduced  which  it  is  difificult  to  efface, 
and  health  and  even  life  may  be  sacrificed.  It  has  been  to 
me  a  matter  of  constant  regret  that  a  portion  of  time  was 
not  strictly  reserved,  especially  during  my  first  five  or  ten 
years  in  China,  for  laying  a  broader  and  deeper  foundation 
for  future  usefulness  by  a  more  extensive  and  methodical 
reading  and  memorizing  of  Mandarin  and  Classic  litera- 
ture. Suitable  and  adcfpiate  |)lans  were  made  for  such 
study,  but  other  occnjiations  in  the  form  of  direct  mission- 
ary work,  promising  immediate  results,  were  allowed  to 
interfere  with  and  set  aside  those  plans.  In  this  way,  as  in 
many  others,  we  are  too  easily  induced  to  sacrifice  a  greater 
future  good  to  a  less  present  one. 

Independent  Individual  Work. 

I.  Though  the  time  of  preparation  for  individual  work 
may  have  been  somewhat  protracted,  the  luissionary  will 
feel  at  its  close  that  he  is  all  too  imperfectly  fitted  for  the 


n 


task  before  him.     He  must   now,  however,  without  un- 

shd,t>.     I.  fore  lh,s  i)omt  ,s  reached,  providential  circum- 
stances and  personal  tastes  and  proclivities  will  probably 
avc  mdicated  clearly  his  .lepartment  of  labor.    Tins  while 
It  should  not  be  .lesultory.  should  not  be  too  nmch  spec- 
lal.zed.     A  variety  of  work  promotes  phvsical  and  intel- 
lec  ual   heahh.      l-.n,ployn,ents  n,av   be  so  arranged  and 
affihated,  that  mstea.l  of  interfering  with  each  other,  they 
may  be  mutually  helpful.    This  is  spcciallv  true  of  study 
leachmg,  prcachmg,  itinerating  and  book-making.     Each' 
nt    hese,  m  the  above  order,  is  a  preparation  for  that  which 
lows;  and  the  succeeding  ones,  by  their  reficx  innuence 
stnnuate  and  a.ssist  those  that  precede.     Missionary  life 
must  begm  with  study,  but  it  should  not  end  there     All 
study  or  no  study— too  nmch  study  or  too  linjo— are  ex- 
tremes equally  to  be  avoided.     Tlie  results  of  study  can 
only  be  assnmlatcd  and  utilized  by  constant,  familiar  and 
sympathetic  intercourse  with  the  people,  and  people  of  all 

2  If  I  were  asked  what  in  my  opinion  is  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  departments  of  mission  work  in  China  I 
siiould  not  be  able  to  answer  categorically  All  are  im- 
portant The  most  im[)ortant  work  for  each  man  is  un- 
doulnedly  that  for  which  he  is  best  filled  and  to  which  he  is 
specmlly  called.  Book-making  is  the  ripest  and  richest 
Imit  of  a  I.  Its  influence  extends  over  nations  and  conti- 
nents and  goes  down  to  successive  generations.  To  con- 
sider the  difTerent  departments  of  missionary  work  in  detail 
would  far  transcend  the  limits  assigned  to  these  pages 
Unc  branch,  however.  Itinerating,  claims  our  spcciaf  at- 
tention, as  particularly  connected  with  the  subject  of  the 
previous  chapters. 

Itinerating. 

I.  In  engaging  in  this  department  of  work  we  may  cer- 
tainly have  the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  we  are  in'com- 
plete  accord  with  the  great  commission,  "  Go  ye  into  all 
the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,"  and 
3  so  with  the  example  of  the  great  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles. 
W  hile  the  active  labors  of  this  Apostle  were  largely  made 


K^^^i?fvCJ^?i;^ 


78 


ri.  A  NT  INC,    or  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


ii]i  of  tcaeliing,  prc;uliiiif;  and  writiiiL;,  iliiRTating  may 
perhaps  l)c  regarded  as  tlieir  distinguisliins;  feature  and  that 
to  wliith  he  was  specially  set  apart  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

2.  The  great  centres  where  he  spent  most  of  his  time 
were  apparently  not  selected  by  him  in  accordance  wi(li 
a  predetermined  plan,  but  were  proviilcntially  indicated  to 
him  in  the  ordinary  course  of  his  y\])ostolic  tours.  Hiil 
most  missionaries,  however  nuich  they  may  itinerate,  will 
rccpiire  a  fixed  place  of  residence,  that  is  a  home,  in  select- 
ing which  the  chief  considerations  should  be  health,  facil- 
ities for  ac(|uiring  the  language,  and  a  place  which  is  an 
inllnential  centre  in  itself  and  affords  easy  access  to  the  un- 
e\angelized  regions  about  it.  Such  a  home  the  Apostle 
Paul  had  at  yXntioch,  where  he  spent  the  intervals  between 
I'.is  itinerating  tours. 

3.  \\'hen  the  time  conies  for  practically  answering  tiie 
question,  "  How  shall  I  make  a  beginning?  "  I  should  say. 
Do  as  the  Apostle  did.  Go  everywhere  preaching  the 
Gospel.  You  can  not  know  where  there  may  be  some  one 
waiting  for  you  and  some  one  to  whom  you  have  been 
sent.  Ask  for  direction.  Christ's  sheep  will  hear  His  voice. 
How  shall  we  find  them?  Go  everywhere,  and  wherever 
"  Christ's  sheep  "  are,  there  they  will  respond  to  His  call. 
Then  vou  will  have  a  beginning  from  which  to  work  and 
one  of  God's  own  choosing. 

Assistants  or  Helpers. 

I.  Our  Saviour  sent  out  his  disciples  on  evangelistic 
tours  two  by  two.    There  are  many  special  advantages  to 
be  gained  in  a  foreigner  being  accompanied  by  a  well- 
trained  native  helper,  if  such  a  one  is  to  be  had,  the  for-  ^ 
eigner  attracting  an  audience,  while  the  Chinaman  may 
possibly  do  most  of  the  talking.    Constant  intercourse  with  ■ 
a  native  is  not  only,  as  has  been  remarked  before,  the  best 
way  to  accjuire  a  familiar  and  practical  knowledge  of  the  \ 
language  and   native   character,  customs  and    modes  of] 
thought,  but  it  is  also  the  best  way  for  the  foreigner  to! 
communicate  to  his  assistant  practical  instruction  to  de- 
velop his  Christian  character  and  influence  him  for  good.] 
It  is  not  easy,  however,  to  find  just  such  men  as  one  would] 


BEGINNING    WORK 


79 


like,  even  in  the  older  stations,  and  the  young  missionary 
may  feel  himself  specially  fortunate  if  he  is  able  to  obtain 
one. 

.Still,  the  work  may  be  begun  and  pro.secuted  success- 
tully  without  such  a  lieli)er,  and  far  better  without  one  than 
with  a  person  who  is  not  a  sincere  and  earnest  Christian. 
Hefore  the  missionary  is  ready  for  itinerating  he  will  prob- 
ably have  had  in  his  employ  for  many  months  a  personal 
servant,  who,  though  he  may  not  be  a  convert,  may  be 
if  he  IS  m  .sympathy  with  his  employer,  very  serviceable  on 
an  Itinerating  tour.  1  le  will  everywhere  be  the  person  ap- 
plied to  by  the  curious  villagers  to  obtain  all  sorts  of  infor- 
mation about  the  character,  mode  of  life  and  aims  and  pur- 
poses of  the  foreign  visitor.  Indeetl,  the  fact  that  your 
attendant  is  not  a  professed  Christian  makes  his  country- 
men all  the  more  free  in  communicating  with  him  and 
gives  additional  weight  to  his  testimon)-. 

2.  If  your  servant  has  been  brought  to  Christ  while  in 
your  employ,  the  fulness  and  warmth  of  his  testimony  will 
more  than  compensate  for  the  want  of  credence  consequent 
on  being  a  co-religionist  and  as  such  pledged  to  speak 
for  you.  In  an  early  period  of  mv  work  in  Ning-po,  I  had 
a  Christian  servant  wIkj  was  to  me  invaluable.  He  was  a 
tailor  by  trade,  and  learned  to  be  a  good  washerman  and 
cook.  After  becoming  a  Christian  he  accompanied  me  on 
my  tours,  attending  to  my  washing,  mending  and  cooking 
making  himself  generally  useful,  and  at  the  same  time  was 
earnest  and  judicious  in  bearing  witness  to  Christianity 
when  opportunity  offered.  Most  of  those  whom  he  met 
with  were  more  easily  reached  bv  him  than  tliev  could  have 
been  by  a  scholar,  as  they  were  nearer  to  him  on  the  social 
scale  and  more  in  sympathy  with  him.  I  then  felt,  with  the 
other  members  of  the  Ning-po  mission,  that  he'  was  too 
valuable  a  man  to  be  employed  as  a  servant,  and  he  was 
induced  to  change  his  position  in  life  and  was  employed 
successively  as  chapel-keeper,  assistant,  etc.  I  now  think 
we  made  a  mistake  in  not  leaving  him  in  the  position  of 
servant,  and  fear  that  he  has  never  been  as  happy  or  use- 
ful since  as  he  was  in  his  original  sphere  of  life. 

3.  Boatmen,  cartmen,  muleteers  and  wheel-barrow  men 
in   our   employ,  and    inn-keepers   with   whom    we   stop, 


8o 


PLANTING    OF  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


tliough  not  Christians,  may  be  of  great  service  to  us,  if 
tlicir  relations  and  dispositions  towards  lis  are  such  as  to 
incline  them  to  throw  their  influence  in  our  favor.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  they  are  prejudiced  against  Christianity,  or 
cherish  a  feeling  of  resentment  on  account  of  real  or 
fancied  injuries,  they  may  do  us  much  harm.  In  fact,  by 
their  fault-finding,  exaggerating  real  wrongs  and  repeating 
idle  rumors,  they  may  neutralize  all  our  preaching.  I  once 
employed  a  muleteer  who  was  an  ill-tempered  man  and 
strongly  prejudiced  against  Christianity.  He,  as  I  after- 
wards learned,  reported  wherever  I  went  that  the  Chinese 
helper  accompanying  me  was  a  cheat  and  a  deceiver;  and 
that  moreover  most  of  those  who  entered  our  religion  soon 
became  insane!  That  this  trip  was  not  a  very  satisfactory 
one  in  its  results  need  not  be  a  matter  of  surprise.  I  am 
glad  to  be  able  to  say  that  my  experiences  have  not  always 
been  of  this  kind. 

About  six  years  ago,  I  was  detained  in  a  small  country 
inn  by  a  severe  case  of  persecution  which  was  exciting  a 
great  deal  of  interest  in  the  neighborhood.  At  the  close 
of  a  busy  day  one  of  my  wheel-barrow  men  came  to  me 
and  said :  "  There  is  a  man  here  who  lives  near  my  home 
about  twenty  miles  away  whom  it  would  be  well  for  you  to 
have  a  talk  with.  He  stopped  here  for  lunch  at  noon,  be- 
came interested  in  what  is  going  on,  and  has  questioned 
me  the  whole  afternoon  about  you  and  what  you  are  doing. 
He  has  remained  so  long  that  he  cannot  reach  home  to- 
day and  will  stay  in  the  inn  over  night."  In  less  than  two 
vears  from  that  time  this  new  acquaintance  made  a  public 
profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ.  All  the  members  of  his 
faniilv,  which  is  a  large  one,  are  now  Christians;  his  home 
has  become  an  important  Christian  centre,  and  eight  or  ten 
stations  have  sprung  up  near  his  native  town,  mainly 
through  his  influence.  These  two  wheel-barrow  men  are 
persons  constantly  in  my  employ,  whether  at  home  or  on 
country  tours.  They  are  not  as  yet  baptized  and  at  that 
time  were  not  specially  inclined  to  become  Christians.  I 
often  obtain  from  them  important  information  respecting 
the  villages  through  which  I  travel,  and  also  hear  from 
them  faults  and  irregularities  in  my  stations,  some  of  which 
even  the  native  helper  has  failed  to  discover.- 


BEGINNING    WORK 


8i 


How  shall  We  Reach  the  Peonle  ? 

1.  When  places  in  the  interior  are  visited  for  the  first 
time,  there  are  opportunities  to  preach  to  crowds  such 
as  will  |)robably  never  occur  again.  The  whole  popula- 
tion, moved  by  curiosity,  comes  out  to  see  the  f(jreigncr, 
eagerly  intent  to  hear  what  he  has  to  say.  In  i)rcacliing 
imdcr  these  circumstances,  even  when  well  ac(|uainted  with 
the  language,  we  must  not  expect  the  i)eople  to  understand 
more  than  a  moiety  of  what  we  say.  There  is  too  much 
curiosity,  excitement  and  noise  to  admit  of  connected  dis- 
course or  continued  attention.  Besides,  the  people  are  so 
unaccustomed  to  religious  subjects  that  language  fails  to 
conununicate  the  idea  intended.  This  kind  of  jjreaching, 
though  for  the  reasons  above  stated  very  ineffectual  as  re- 
gards its  main  object,  is  still  by  no  means  imimportant. 
We  may  at  least  leave  the  impression  behind  us  that  we 
have  kindly  intentions,  that  we  are  not  barbarians,  and 
may  also  give  some  general  idea  of  our  character  and  work 
as  religious  teachers,  thus  preparing  the  way  for  a  more 
lengthened  visit  and  more  detailed  teaching  in  the  future. 
We  may  also  hope  and  pray  that  in  the  crowd  which 
gathers  around  us  as  we  pass  from  village  to  village,  there 
may  be  some  person  prepared  to  receive  our  message,  or 
that  the  good  seed  may  find  a  permanent  lodgment  in  some 
heart  and  bring  forth  fruit  hereafter.  A  few  tracts  are  very 
useful  at  such  a  time  to  convey  to  the  people,  as  they  are 
read  afterwards,  better  ideas  of  our  object  than  we  have 
been  able  under  the  circumstances  to  give  orally. 

2.  There  are  many  advantages  in  visiting  the  regular 
fairs,  which  are  so  striking  a  feature  of  countrv  life  in 
most  parts  of  China.  Here  crowds  of  country  people  are 
gathered  and  an  excellent  opportunity  is  afforded  for  ad- 
dressing a  constantly  changing  audience,  representing 
many  surrounding  villages  and  distant  cities.  If  there  are 
those  listening  who  wish  fuller  instruction  or  wdiose  curios- 
ity is  not  satisfied,  they  will  probably  seek  out  the  mission- 
ary at  his  inn. 

3.  In  the  imi  there  is  an  opportunity  for  more  or  less 
lengthened  conversation,  adapting  instruction  and  infor- 
mation to  individuals  and  forming  acquaintances  which 


82 


PLANTING    OF  AflSSrONARV  CHURCHES 


may  he  followed  up  in  the  future.  Books  can  also  he  dis- 
posed of  wilii  a  f^reater  dej^tec  of  care  aud  discrimination. 
Ill  parts  of  tlie  country  where  tliere  are  canals  the  travelling 
boat  larpely  lakes  the  place  of  the  inn. 

4.  Visits  to  native  schools  are  sometimes  very  interest- 
ing and  encouraging.  Here  we  may  expect  widely  differ- 
ing receptions  and  experiences  according  to  the  character 
of  the  teacher  in  charge. 

5.  Some  missionaries  adopt  indirect  and  unobtrusive 
methods,  avoiding  crow  ds  and  making  comparatively  little 
use  of  public  preaching,  planning  to  have  the  people  seek 
them,  rather  than  going  after  the  people.  The  Romanists, 
so  far  as  my  observation  goes,  generally  adopt  this  method. 
Their  long  experience  and  success  render  their  example 
worthy  of  serious  consideration. 

6.  Others,  wherever  they  go,  make  inquiries  after  relig- 
iously disposed  persons  or  seekers  after  the  truth,  a  class 
which  is  found  in  greater  or  less  numbers  almost  every- 
where in  China,  and  endeavor  to  influence  them  and 
through  them  the  circle  of  friends  or  adherents  always 
found  connected  with  them.  This  plan  is  oliviously  rea- 
sonable and  practical  and  has  the  special  sanction  of  our 
Saviour's  teachings,  Matthew  X.  II.  It  has  been  largely 
adopted  by  the  English  Baptists  in  Shan-tung  and  with 
encouraging  results. 

7.  While  most  missionaries  give  their  chief  attention  to 
the  middle  or  more  illiterate  class,  a  few  feel  a  special  call 
to  attempt  to  influence  the  literati  and  officials,  not  only 
because  they  exercise  a  dominating  influence  on  the 
masses,  but  also  because  they  have  been  in  general  too 
much  neglected.  It  is  obvious  that  this  kind  of  work  is 
attended  with  peculiar  difficulty  and  requires  special  prep- 
aration, particularly  in  acquainting  one's  self  with  Chinese 
etiquette.  Indeed,  a  theoretical  and  practical  knowdedge  of 
Chinese  rules  of  politeness  is  very  important  for  every  mis- 
sioiiarv  in  intercourse  with  all  classes. 


BEGINNING    WORK 


83 


How  Best  Expend  One's  Time? 

In  what  way  should  we  spend  our  time  and  talents  so  as 
to  accomplish  most  for  the  advancement  of  Clirist's  cause? 

1.  The  dominant  idea  of  a  missionary  should  be  duty, 
and  not  immediate  individual  success  as  judged  by  human 
standards.  If  the  desire  for  tangible  results  should  take 
the  form  of  a  wish  to  gather  into  the  Church  as  soon  as 
possible  the  greatest  number  of  pr(jfessed  converts  it  may 
become  a  dangerous  temptation  and  snare. 

2.  It  will  be  early  fifty  years  hence  to  determine  with 
positive  certainty  what  any  individual  life  has  or  has  not 
accomplished.  Only  in  eternity  will  every  man's  work 
be  fully  made  manifest  of  what  sort  it  is.  Results  of  ap- 
parently great  importance  may  attract  attention  and  secure 
general  commendation,  and  yet  prove  only  temporary  and 
illusory.  On  the  other  hand,  a  good  book  or  a  word 
spoken  in  season,  may  ])ro(luce  important  results,  though 
the  world  may  never  be  able  to  trace  them  to  their  true 
source. 

3.  Probably  no  two  men  ever  have  or  ever  will  work  in 
the  same  groove.  Each  will  do  his  own  work  best  in  his 
own  way.  If  God  has  called  us  as  individuals  to  serve  Him 
in  China,  He  has  a  special  work  for  each  of  us  to  do,  and 
if  we  earnestly  seek  His  guidance  He  will  direct  us  to  it. 
It  is  apt  to  be  a  very  different  one  from  that  which  we  have 
been  disposed  to  plan  for  ourselves. 

4.  It  is  sometimes  asked,  what  practical  answ-er  does  the 
experience  of  missionaries  in  China  for  the  past  forty  years 
give  to  the  question,  "  Which  methods  of  work  have  really 
brought  the  greatest  number  of  converts  into  the 
Church?"  This  question  is  a  legitimate  and  important 
one,  but  can  only  be  answered  approximately.  The  con- 
ventional modes  of  work  which  sum  up  the  labors  of  mis- 
sionaries as  reported  every  year  to  the  home  societies  are 
Bible  distribution,  tract  distribution,  chapel  i)reaching, 
translating  and  book-making,  schools,  and  itinerations. 

The  number  of  copies  of  the  Bible  and  parts  of  the  Bible 
distributed  in  the  different  parts  of  China  during  the  past 
forty  years  can  only  be  estimated  by  millions;  the  same  is 
true  of  Christian  tracts. 


vmm 


84 


rLANTING    or  MISSIONAKV   CHURCHES 


Many  missionaries  liave  given  tlicir  time  largely  to 
cliapcl  preaching  and  have  thns  spent  from  one  to  three 
hours  dailv.  A  great  deal  of  tliis  work  has  also  been  done 
ijy  natives.  The  number  of  chajjel  discourses  during  the 
jiast  fortv  years  can  also  only  be  estimated  by  millions. 

The  result  of  literary  work  in  the  study  cannot  be  tab- 
ulated. It  passes  into  and  is  utilized  in  every  other  de- 
partment of  lal)or. 

The  aggregate  number  of  years  spent  in  teaching  in 
the  dilTerent  kinds  of  .schools  during  the  last  forty  years, 
can  only  be  numbered  by  thousands. 

As  to  itinerations,  it  is  a  very  conuuon  thing  for  a  mis- 
sionary to  preach  in  from  five  to  ten  villages  in  a  day  and 
from  two  hundred  to  five  Inmdretl  times  on  a  tour.  The 
number  of  these  itinerating  addresses  during  these  forty 
years  can  only  be  numbered  by  hundreds  of  thousands, 
and,  including  those  of  natives,  probably  by  millions. 

The  question  is,  To  which  of  these  different  modes  of 
work  is  the  conversion  of  the  about  30,000*  Protestant 
Christians  of  China  to  be  mainly  traced?  I  am  disposed 
to  think  that  the  number  of  conversions  due  to  each  would 
be  found  to  increase  about  in  the  order  in  which  they  are 
mentioned  above:  that  the  number  traceable  to  them  all 
together  would  be  but  a  small  fraction  of  the  whole;  and 
that  by  far  the  greater  proportion  is  to  be  referred  to  pri- 
vate social  intercourse.  "  The  Kingdom  of  God  cometh 
not  with  observation." 

Missionaries  but  Instruments  in  Spiritual  Work. 

In  the  spiritual  work  of  the  conversion  of  souls  and 
building  up  Christ's  Kingdom  on  earth,  we  of  ourselves 
can  do  nothing  except  as  instruments. 

I.  This  is  a  fact  so  familiarly  known  and  universally  ac- 
knowledged that  it  may  well  be  regarded  as  a  simple  tru- 
ism. Theoretically,  we  learned  this  lesson  almost  in  in- 
fancy: practically,  it  is  difficult  for  some  of  us  fully  to  learn 
it  in  a  lifetime.  It  is  so  natural  for  us  to  feel  that  with  a 
good  knowledge  of  the  language,  sincere  earnestness  and 
sympathy  with  the  people,  together  with  prudence,  com- 

*  The  present  numlier  of  I'mteslaiit  communicants  is  80,682. 


BECINNlh'G    nORK 


85 


men  sense,  zeal,  hard  work  and  |Krsevcrance,  soor.cr  or 
later  great  spiritual  results  nnist  certainly  be  accomplished. 
This  is  by  no  means  the  case.  Our  labors  may  combine  all 
the  above  conditions  and  yet  be  fruitless  in  the  conversion 
of  souls.  If  we  depend  upon  our  gifts  or  acquisitions,  our 
zeal  in  the  use  even  of  Cod's  appointed  means,  with  an 
underlying  and  insidious  desire  for  a  result  which  may  be 
regarded  as  something  which  we  ourselves  have  accom- 
|)lished,  we  shall  probably  be  disa|)pointed.  If  we  are  cher- 
ishing a  feeling  of  self-dependence  in  any  form,  God  will 
probably  humble  us  before  lie  will  use  us.  We  must  feel 
tiiat  if  anything  is  acconi])lislu'd  it  will  be  by  the  presence 
and  power  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  and  be  ready  to  ascribe 
all  the  glory  to  Him.  Otherwise  He  will  ])robably  leave 
us  to  ourselves  to  learn  the  lesson  of  our  own  weakness. 
The  natural  tendency  to  depend  on  self,  or  on  anything  else 
rather  than  God,  has  been  a  prominent  sin  of  (jod's  people 
from  the  earliest  times.  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  this 
tendency  now  (irevails  to  a  great  extent  among  Christians 
at  home  and  that  luissionaries  conmience  work  in  foreign 
lands  too  much  imder  the  influence  of  it. 

2.  In  this  commercial  age  a  commercial  spirit  has  crept 
into  the  Church.  As  in  business  matters  generally,  so  in 
religious  enterprises,  it  is  supposed  that  a  certain  amount 
of  capital,  judiciously  cx[)ended,  will  naturally  work  out  a 
certain  residt.  The  success  of  a  mission  societ)'  is  gauged 
by  the  amoimt  of  money  in  its  treasury.  In  order  to  secure 
more  liberal  contributions,  only  the  more  favorable  and 
encouraging  facts  are  welcomed  and  laid  before  the 
churches,  so  tiiat  they  may  feel  that  they  are  contributing 
not  to  a  failing  but  to  a  prospering  cause.  Let  me  not  be 
understood  as  im|)lying  that  money  is  not  important  and 
that  the  duty  of  giving  to  missions  should  not  be  ])ressed 
home  upon  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  all,  whetlier  na- 
tive converts  or  home  Christians.  The  danger  I  would 
guard  against  is  of  giving  such  disprojiortionate  ])roni- 
inence  to  money  as  to  divert  the  mind  from  what  is  of  much 
greater  importance.  In  a  word,  it  is  making  money  or 
wiiat  money  can  command,  rather  than  the  Holy  .S|)irit, 
our  main  dependence.  I  am  quite  aware  that  all  Christians 
would  earnestly  disavow  any  such  intention.     It  is  not  an 


86 


PLANTIKC    OF  MISSIOKARV   CIIUKCIIES 


iiiicoinnion  tiling,  however,  to  find  ourselves  doing  indi- 
rectly, or  tmconsciously,  what  wc  could  never  be  induced 
to  do  fleliheratfly  and  knowingly.  The  work  we  arc  prose- 
cuting is  distinctly  and  emphatically  a  work  of  Ciod"s  Spirit. 
If  we  fail  to  recognize  and  act  upon  this  fact,  the  mission 
work  will  decline  even  with  a  full  treasury;  while  with  the 
Spirit's  presence  it  will  prosper  even  with  a  depleted  one. 

Pergonal  Experience  in  Beginning  Work  in  Shan-tung. 

1.  I  commenced  itinerating  work  in  Centra!  Shan-tung 
about  fifteen  years  ago,  my  previous  tours  having  been  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  province.  I  knew  the  language  and 
had  the  advantage  of  seventeen  years  of  experience  else- 
where, but  was  without  a  native  assistant.  I  prosecuted 
the  work  laboriously,  making  long  tours  over  the  same 
ground  every  spring  and  autunm,  but  for  five  years  had  not 
a  single  convert.  The  work  at  that  time  was  quite  difTerent 
from  what  it  is  at  present.  Then  my  labors  were  entirely 
with  the  ])reviously  unreached  masses,  and  consisted  in 
preaching  at  fairs,  in  imis  and  on  the  street,  in  book  dis- 
tribution and  efforts  to  form  acquaintances  with  well  dis- 
posed persons  wherever  I  could  find  them. 

2.  At  present  nearly  all  my  time  and  strength,  when  in 
the  country,  are  ex])cnded  on  the  native  Christians  on  the 
plan  detailed  in  previous  chapters.  As  a  rule,  I  now  reach 
the  masses  indirectly  through  the  Christians;  they  doing 
the  aggressive  work,  and  I  following  it  uf),  directing  and 
organizing  it.  Had  I  again  to  begin  work  in  a  new  field, 
I  do  not  know  where  I  should  change  the  methods  hereto- 
fore adopted,  except  in  the  one  particular  of  not  encourag- 
ing in  any  way  hopes  of  pecuniary  help. 

3.  Why  these  methods  proved  fruitless  for  so  long  a 
time  it  is  iinpossible  to  say.  In  looking  back  over  my  ex- 
periences during  the  first  five  years  of  work  in  this  field,  it 
appears  made  up  chiefly  of  failures  and  disappointments. 
Men  for  whom  1  had  watched  and  labored  for  years,  who 
seemed  almost  persuaded  to  be  Christians,  went  back  and 
were  lost  sight  of.  Associations  of  co-religionists  were  at 
different  times  on  the  point  of  entering  the  Church  in  a 
body  with  their  leaders.    From  them  all  I  have  realized  lit- 


ni'.GIKNINC    WORK 


87 


tie  else  tlian  wasted  time  and  labor,  with  no  doubt  the  ac- 
cjuisilion  of  some  valuable  exjiericnce.  1  have  in  mind 
several  places  within  my  circuit  where  there  seemed  to  be 
an  unusual  religious  interest  springing  \.\\i,  places  which  I 
hoped  would  soon  be  centres  of  Christian  influence  with 
chajjels  and  native  leaders;  but  these  expectations  have 
hardly  been  realized  in  a  single  instance.  In  some  cases 
I  have  endeavored  to  encourage  and  stinuilate  [x-rsons  who 
have  been  doing  something  in  the  way  of  active  Christian 
work  by  giving  them  a  little  pecuniary  assistance,  hfjping 
that  they  might  be  of  help  to  me  in  the  future.  This  class 
has  not  furnished,  so  far  as  I  can  recall,  a  single  individual 
who  has  not  disapiiointeil  me.  Help  in  the  way  of  pay  for 
Christian  work  which  ought  to  be  done  without  pay  has 
always  done  harm.  The  amount  of  pecuniary  hel])  which  I 
have  considered  reasonable  and  ample  in  these  cases  has 
been  regarded  by  beneficiaries  as  insufficient,  and  has  often 
produced  dissatisfaction,  comi)laint  and  resentment. 

4.  When  converts  have  appeared,  they  have  come  from 
unexpected  c|uarters  and  in  unexpected  ways;  stations 
have  been  established  without  my  planning  and  in  places 
previously  entirely  unknown  to  me.  As  a  rule  the  now 
existing  stations  are  not  found  in  the  sections  of  country 
where  the  itinerating  work  began,  nor  are  the  results 
realized  directly  tracealde  to  previous  work  of  seed-sowing. 
If  asked  the  cause  of  the  difference  in  the  outcome  of  labors 
of  the  preceding  and  succeeding  years,  the  (piestion  is  not 
easy  to  answer.  The  influence  of  the  work  of  famine-relief 
and  a  supposed  special  susce])tibility  to  religitnis  impres- 
sions in  the  regions  where  these  stations  are  found  will  ac- 
count but  in  part  for  the  difference.  We  can  only  say  that 
God  in  His  inscrutable  providence  has  so  ordered  it.  For 
myself,  I  have  learned  that  God's  ways  are  very  different 
and  infinitely  wiser  than  mine;  that  it  is  better  to  follow 
than  to  take  the  lead;  and  that  there  is  need  to  pray,  not 
only  that  we  may  be  used  as  instruments  in  God's  work, 
but  that  we  may  be  kej)!  from  marring  or  obstructing  it. 

5.  I  might  add  here  that  I  have  known  of  many  instances 
in  which  individuals  and  groups  of  individuals  have  been 
brought  into  the  Church  with  very  imperfect  and  errone- 
ous views  of  Christianity,  and  moreover  influenced  largely 


\P/.ANT!Na    OF  Af/SSIOA'AKV  CIIUKCIIF.S 

,y  mercenary  motives,  wlui  have  afterwards  f;iven  evi- 
dence of  liavin};  become  intellit^ent  and  sincere  Christians. 
6.  Some  ha\'e  sn|)[)osed  tltat  we  are  warranted  in  tiie  first 
presentation  of  (_'hrislianity  in  witiiholding  those  doctrines 
which  antagonize  Cliinese  systems  and  are  calculated  to 
excite  prejudice  and  opposition,  jiresenting  only  those  feat- 
ures which  are  conciliatory  and  attractive,  thus  drawing 
the  peoi)le  to  us  and  gaining  an  inlluence  over  them  and 
afterwards  giving  them  instruction  in  the  complete  system 
of  Christian  truth  as  they  are  able  to  i)ear  it.  I  doubt  very 
nnich  whether  such  a  course  is  justified  by  the  teaching  and 
example  of  our  Saviour  and  the  Apostles,  (lod  may  and 
does  in  His  mercy  and  grace  make  use  of  our  incomplete 
presentation  of  His  truth  and  an  imjierfcct  apprehension  of 
it  to  the  conversion  and  salvation  of  men;  but  have  we  not 
still  greater  reason  for  expecting  His  blessing  in  connec- 
tion with  His  truth  when  given  in  its  completeness?  I  be- 
lieve there  is  no  doctrine  of  Christianity  the  full  presenta- 
tion of  which  we  need  fear.  With  all  our  care  to  "  declare 
the  whole  counsel  of  C^od  "  there  will  still  be  a  great  amount 
of  misconception  in  the  minds  of  those  who  hear  us,  and  we 
may  well  be  thankful  tiiat  God  will  use  and  bless  inadequate 
conceptions  of  His  truth.  It  is  for  us,  however,  to  make 
our  teaching  as  fidl  and  clear  as  possible. 


How  may  We  Best  Get  Out  of  "  Old  Ruts  "  ? 

I.  To  those  who  still  prefer  the  Old  System  this  question 
has  of  course  no  relevancy,  but  it  is  presumed  that  there 
arc  others  who  will  regard  it  as  a  practical  and  important 
one.  In  some  respects  it  is  much  simpler  and  easier  to 
connnence  work  from  the  beginning.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  are  many  ailvantages  in  having  an  old  foundation 
to  build  on  and  much  good  material  to  use.  Many  of  our 
native  employes  sustain  characters  beyond  reproach  or 
suspicion.  Some  are  efficient  workers;  others  are  simply 
out  of  their  place,  having  been  brought  into  a  position 
for  which  they  are  unsuited  and  by  long  continuance  in 
which  they  have  become  unfitted  for  their  original  modes 
of  life.    If  there  are  any  persons  who  are  to  be  blamed  for 


DF.G INNING    WORK 


89 


this  result  they  are  mainly  the  missionartes  of  twenty, 
thirty,  or  forty  years  ago,  who  inaugurated  the  present 
stale  of  things,  or  the  .societies  which  sent  them  out  with 
mstructions  to  do  so.  Probably  blame  should  be  attributed 
to  no  one,  as  both  foreigners  and  natives  concerned  have 
done  what  they  regarded  as  their  duty  and  what  they  sup- 
posed was  for  the  best  interests  of  the  mission  cause. 
Under  these  circumstances  long  established  relations 
should  not  be  rudely  severed,  and  the  natives,  who  are 
more  to  be  jjitied  than  blanird,  should  be  treated  with 
sympathy  and  justice. 

2.  In  the  case  (A  competent  and  efficient  ])astors  whose 
people  are  able  and  desirous  to  sujjport  them,  no  change 
is  required.  Other  pastors,  able  and  willing  to  "  endure 
hardness,"  might  take  the  charge  of  several  weak  churches 
which  combined  would  be  able  to  give  them  a  com|)etent 
support.  Pastors  left  without  charge  by  this  union  of 
churches  might  be  emi)loyed,  if  they  have  the  requisite 
gifts,  as  evangelists,  either  in  opening  new  fields  not  yet 
reached,  or  in  superintending  weak  and  scattered  com- 
)anies  of  Christians  who  are  under  the  inmiediate  instruc- 
tion of  leaders  or  elders.  Such  evangelists,  if  thoroughly 
proved  and  tried,  might  be  .supported  wholly  by  the  mission 
or  wholly  by  the  native  churches  or  by  the  two  conjointly. 
Others  specially  suited  for  the  purpose  might  supply  the 
helpers  and  attendants  required  by  the  new  plan  as  well 
ns  the  old.  These  would  be  connected  with  and  under  the 
direction  of  the  missionary,  giving  him  needed  assistance 
in  receiving,  entertaining  and  instructing  guests  and  in- 
luirers,  in  itinerating  tours,  and  in  the  care  and  oversight 
if  inquirers  and  new  stations.  Others  unfitted  by  age  or 
incapacity  for  active  .service  might  be  retired  on  a  pension 
and  left  to  do  what  they  can  by  voluntary  labor  as  private 
Christians.  Assistance  might  be  given  to  others  for  two 
or  three  years  in  acquiring  some  trade  or  profession.  One 
of  the  older  missionaries  in  China,  nmch  interested  in  this 
question,  has  suggested  the  plan  of  furnishing  to  suitable 
men  three  years  of  theoretical  and  practical  in.structiou  in 
the  science  of  medicine,  thus  putting  within  their  reach  a 
useful  and  honorable  means  of  livelihood  and  then  leaving 
ihem  to  themselves.    By  some  such  means  as  this  men  of 


90 


VLAKTIXG    OF  MISSIONARY  CHURCHES 


tlie  right  stamp  niiglit  have  tlieir  influence  for  good  greatly 
enhanced. 

3.  Probably  sonic  readers  of  the  foregoing  pages  may 
derive  the  inijircssion  that  the  writer  is  desponding  and 
pessimistic  in  his  views  of  mission  work.  On  the  contrary, 
if  I  may  be  allowed  an  opinion  on  such  a  ciuestion,  I  think 
1  have  always  been  rather  sanguine,  if  not  enthusiastic.  I 
believe  that  nuich  has  been  accomplished  in  every  deiiart- 
nient  of  missionary  work  in  China.  The  literary  outcome 
of  the  past  forty  years  is  alone  and  by  itself  a  rich  legacy  to 
the  missionaries  and  native  Christians  of  the  present,  and 
gives  them  a  vantage  ground  in  undertaking  future  labor 
which  it  is  difficult  to  overestimate.  The  ratio  of  increase 
in  the  number  of  converts,  and  the  evidence  of  growth  and 
development  in  native  clnirclies,  are  also  full  of  encourage- 
ment. While  we  must  record  many  cases  of  coldness  and 
defection,  we  remember  that  such  cases  have  characterized 
the  history  and  progress  of  the  Church  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  in  every  age.  On  the  other  hand,  we  rejoice  in 
being  able  to  point  to  many  who  give  undoubted  evidence 
of  being  God's  chosen  ones,  while  there  are  others  whose 
names  are  already  enrolled  among  the  noble  army  of 
martyrs.  It  has  been  my  privilege  to  know  many  Christian 
men  and  Christian  women  in  China  whose  godly  lives  and 
peaceful  deaths  have  been  an  inspiration  to  me  and  made 
me,  I  trust,  a  better  man  and  a  more  earnest  worker.  I 
count  among  my  nearest  and  most  honored  friends  not  a 
few  native  Christians  who  are  now  bearing  faithful  testi- 
mony to  the  truth  in  the  midst  of  opposition  and  manifold 
trials  such  as  Christians  in  Western  lands  can  only  imper- 
fectly appreciate.  It  has  been  the  object  of  these  chapters, 
not  to  extol  the  virtues  of  Chinese  Christians,  concerning 
which  volumes  miglit  be  written,  but  ratlier  to  point  out 
certain  evils  in  what  I  regard  a  mistaken  policy  of  mis- 
sionary work.  If  the  reader  has  not  met  with  many  reas- 
suring facts  and  cheering  prospects,  it  is  only  because  this 
is  not  the  place  to  look  for  them. 

4.  Tliankfully  acknowledging  what  has  already  been 
done,  I  believe  we  have  not  accomplished  what  we  niiglit  if 
we  had  followed  more  closely  the  teachings  and  examples 


BEGINNING   WORK 


9» 


given  us  for  our  guidance  in  the  Scriptures.  I  believe  that 
the  injudicious  use  of  money  and  agencies  depending  on 
money  have  retarded  and  crippled  our  work  and  luoduced 
a  ess  self-reliant  and  stalwart  tvpc  of  Christians  tiian  we 
otherwise  shniild  have  had. 

5.  I  should  exceedingly  regret  if  the  statement  just  made 
or  any  other  slatenicnt  in  these  letters  should  be  under- 
stood or  construed  as  intimating  that  the  use  of  money 
in  carrying  on  missionary  work  is  not  legitimate.  In  the 
nature  of  things  pecuniary  aid  is  an  absolute  necessitv 
not  only  for  sending  out  and  supporting  well  (iiialilied  and' 
accredited  missionaries,  but  also  for  hospital  and  dis- 
pensary work,  for  the  preparation  and  dissemination  of  a 
Christian  literature,  for  establishing  higher  institutions  of 
learning  and  for  furnishing,  as  needed,  grants-in-aid  for 
primary  or  preparatory  Christian  schools.  In  supplying 
the  funds  thus  required  all  Christians  have  the  opportu'nitv 
of  sharing  in  the  privileges  and  self-denials  of  the  work  of 
preaching  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.  Far  more  nionev 
IS  needed  for  the  actual  demands  of  the  work  than  has 
hitherto  been  given.  Some  parts  of  the  heathen  world  now 
fully  open  to  missionary  effort  have  scarcely  been  touched. 
In  other  places,  like  China,  where  the  work  has  begun,  the 
supply  of  laborers  is  utterly  inadequate.  If  we  refrain,  as 
I  have  strenuously  urged, 'from  spending  monev  in  wavs 
not  sanctioned  by  the  Scriptures  and  experience,  we  shall 
have  the  more  to  use  in  legitimate  methods.  Moreover, 
the  Church,  when  fully  satisfied  that  its  contributions  arc 
wisely  disbursed,  will  naturally  be  more  spontaneous  and 
generous  in  its  liberalitv. 

6.  There  are  abundant  evidences  of  God's  willingness  to 
bless  our  labors,  and  evidences  also  that  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  is  as  well  adapted  to  the  Chinese  as  to  any  other 
race.  Let  us,  then,  with  unwavering  faith  in  God's  re- 
vealed Word  and  an  implicit  trust  in  the  efficacy  of  the 
Divine  Spirit,  address  ourselves  to  our  labors  with  renewed 
zeal  and  earnestness;  praying  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to 
send  forth  laborers  into  His  harvest  and  for  the  abundant 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit  upon  us  and  those  to  whom  we 
are  sent;  hoping  and  believing  that  in  these  most  remote 


J 


92  PLANT/A^G   OF  MISSIONARY   CHURCHES 

regions  of  Eastern  Asia,  so  long  [ireservcd  by  God's  provi- 
dence, so  thickly  i)coi)led  with  His  erring  children,  and  so 
lately  reached  by  the  message  of  salvation,  the  Church 
may  yet  record  such  signal  tritmiphs  of  grace  and  power 
as  have  not  been  witnessed  in  any  previous  period  of  her 
history. 


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